Sen. Landrieu Backs Larger Naval Fleet

Lousiana Senator Mary Landrieu introduced legislation last week aimed to increase the number of naval ships. The Landrieu bill makes it the policy of the United States to return to a Navy of a least 375 ships, the amount recommended by the Chief of Naval Operations. In addition to increasing port security this bill would help protect important jobs at shipyards throughout the country. "With a current force structure well below Department of Defense requirements, our current policy is unsustainable," said Senator Mary Landrieu, a member of the Senate Shipbuilding Caucus. "Our Naval forces play a vital role in securing our ports and contribute to our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. These bases at sea project rapid and decisive power anywhere in the world." The Navy currently has 301 ships in the fleet, nearly half the number of ships we had in 1987, below 375 ships asked for by the Chief of Naval Operations. More than 60 ships participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and more that 70 ships are fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom.