Senator David Perdue Secures Seapower Priorities In Defense Bill
Press Release
As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) secured a number of priorities of importance to the Navy and Marine Corps in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. The bill passed through the Armed Services Committee on Wednesday and awaits consideration by the full Senate.
"The U.S. Navy is one of the most effective tools we as a country have to maintain peace and stability around the world," said Chairman Perdue. "This bill takes critical steps to improve readiness and recapitalize our fleet. It also includes an emphasis on developing and sustaining our shipbuilding enterprise, which is essential in the era of great power competition. However, more must be done to ensure our Navy can keep up with the competition long-term. As Chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee, I'm committed to working with the Navy to improve the acquisition process and continue growing our world-class fleet in support of our National Defense Strategy."
Leading the Seapower Subcommittee, Senator Perdue secured a number of Navy and Marine Corps priorities. Here are some highlights:
Prioritizes Shipbuilding: Boosts shipbuilding funding by $1.4 billion and maintains congressional oversight to address cost increases, schedule delays, and performance issues.
Grows The Fleet: Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should have 355 battle force ships available as soon as practicable.
Enables Cost Savings: Enables significant cost savings and supplier stability by authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to "block buy" two Columbia-class submarines and four amphibious ships.
Funds Top Priorities: Authorizes funds for an additional Virginia-class submarine, the Navy's top unfunded priority.
Improves Efficiency: Increases funds by $350 million to expand capabilities of 2nd and 3rd-tier suppliers of surface ship and submarine industrial base, which should lead to greater industrial base stability, cost savings, and improved efficiency.
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