Seapower Subcommittee News

Regardless of whether the Republicans seize or the Democrats maintain control of the House and Senate, there is a guarantee that changes in leadership will occur in some of the key Congressional leadership positions that will impact the maritime industry. Two of the most significant Congressional committees of jurisdiction are the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (House T&I) and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate Commerce). Both committees have jurisdiction over the U.S.

The Surface Navy Association will hold its 31st National Symposium January 15-17, 2019 at the Crystal City Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Va.The symposium will feature senior Navy leaders delivering keynote remarks, focused on the theme of “Ready, Agile, Focused: Own the Fight!”Featured speakers include Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran; Commander, Naval Surface Forces/Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Vice Adm. Richard A. Brown, USN; Director, Surface Warfare (N96) Rear Adm. Ronald A. Boxall; and Director, Expeditionary Warfare (N95) Maj. Gen.

Included in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed today by President Donald Trump is policy to grow the U.S. Navy fleet from its current 279 ships to a minimum of 355. “With his signature, President Trump has confirmed the United States’ resolve to meet the growing needs of our U.S. Navy,” said Senate Seapower Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.), who introduced the Securing the Homeland by Increasing our Power on the Seas (SHIPS) Act along with Rep. Rob Wittman (Va.).

Speaking in front of the Senate, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, said the requirement for a 355-ship Navy is clear, especially in light of the recent, fatal accidents involving the USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain. In response to these incidents, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson, directed that a comprehensive review take place. On Tuesday, Wicker and other members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have been briefed on those findings. The Navy is scheduled to make the review public later this week.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, announced that he successfully added his “SHIPS Act” proposal to help the Navy reach its requirement of a 355-ship fleet in this year’s “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA). The Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved the national defense bill, authorizing $640 billion in overall funding for America’s servicemembers, military installations and industrial base. It now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

The push to rebuild the U.S. Navy received a boost today when U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Congressman Rob Wittman, R-Va., introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation that would make it the policy of the United States to achieve the Navy’s requirement of 355 ships. Under the “Securing the Homeland by Increasing our Power on the Seas (SHIPS) Act,” the fleet would be comprised of the optimal mix of platforms, with funding levels subject to annual appropriations. Currently, 276 ships are in the battle fleet.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, today met with Richard Spencer regarding his nomination to be President Donald Trump’s Secretary of the Navy. “Mr. Spencer and I had an encouraging meeting,” Wicker said. “I reiterated my commitment to helping the President and the Navy build a larger, more modern fleet that can meet growing demands around the world. I was pleased to learn that Mr. Spencer shares that goal. Wicker is leading the…

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chairman of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, delivered the first in a series of scheduled remarks aimed at making the case for growing the U.S. Navy fleet to 355 ships, a goal shared by President Trump. Wicker’s speech focused primarily on shipbuilding and the capacity of the submarine industrial base to meet the Navy’s requirements. “President Trump wants a 350-ship Navy, which aligns with the Navy’s requirement for 355 ships. Right now, we only have 275 ships in the battle fleet.

Shipbuilders Council: Proposed Budget Enables Naval Forward Presence and Protects U.S. National Security Interests. The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) today recognized the House Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee for its robust markup of the 2017 shipbuilding budget. Under the proposal, the Navy’s shipbuilding budget would be increased to $19.9 billion and a separate account, the National Sea Based Deterrent Fund, will receive $773 million to buy the new Ohio submarine replacement Program. “The House Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee’s markup is a reflection of the real need to build more ships for our U.S. Navy,” said Matthew Paxton, President of the SCA.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) Tueaday, for a tour of the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. The congressman saw first-hand the progress being made on Virginia-class submarines, which Newport News builds in partnership with General Dynamics Electric Boat, located in Courtney’s district. He also learned about progress being made on the aircraft carriers Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and met with Newport News…

United States Congressmen Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) this week received the Maritime Leadership Award from the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), a national trade association representing the nation’s shipbuilding and repair industry. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication and support to the shipbuilding and repair industry. “From their critical role in supporting the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry…

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., was chosen by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., to lead the Subcommittee on Seapower. The Subcommittee on Seapower is responsible for Navy and Marine Corps programs and procurement, maritime issues, and strategic lift programs for the Department of Defense. “Mississippi has a proud tradition of supporting our Navy and Marine Corps. I look forward to continuing that tradition as Chairman of this subcommittee, as well as working with the department’s leadership,” Wicker said.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) Tuesday for a tour of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. The visit provided the senators an opportunity to meet shipbuilders and see construction progress being made on all programs across the shipyard. Huntington Ingalls Industries President and CEO Mike Petters and Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin were joined by Adm. M.E. Ferguson, vice chief of naval operations, the Hon. Sean J. Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy, and Rear Adm.

U.S. WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy hopes to smooth out the impact on Lockheed Martin Corp and Australia's Austal of a budget-driven decision to order three Littoral Combat Ships instead of four in fiscal year 2015, the Navy's top weapons buyer said on Thursday. The Navy had planned to buy two of each of the different small warships built by Lockheed and Austal in fiscal 2015 and 2016, but it scaled back those orders to three ships a year as a result of budget cuts mandated by Congress. Assistant Navy Secretary Sean Stackley told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee's seapower subcommittee that Navy officials would now meet with both companies…

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) presented its inaugural “SCA Maritime Leadership Award” to shipbuilding and repair advocate, Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R) from Virginia’s Fourth District. The award was presented Thursday, April 11, during SCA’s annual general membership dinner at the Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City. "Congressman Forbes has been a tireless advocate for a stronger shipbuilding and repair industry and a friend to the Shipbuilders Council of America. As past…

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) yesterday received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Navy for his service in Congress and as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus presented the award. “I thank our brave men and women at the Department of the Navy for this tremendous honor,” said Wicker. “I am proud my home state of Mississippi has played a strong and dynamic role in advancing the Navy’s extraordinary legacy. The Navy Distinguished…

That would amount to a price tag of $550m for the new small, flexible and fast LCS’, which are designed to counter coastal threats, including floating mines, diesel submarines and speedboats. Vice Adm. McCullough, deputy chief of naval operations, gave the new estimate for the ship's cost at a hearing held by the House Armed Services seapower subcommittee. Lockheed and General Dynamics are each building the first of two different designs for the new ship class. They are now bidding for work on the next three ships, and the Navy expects to award a contract later this year. (Source: Reuters)

Subsequent to recent reports that the U.S. Navy had a vested interest in the half-completed cruise vessels for American Classic Voyages now-defunct U.S. Lines, the Navy has confirmed that it is no longer interested in pursuing the vessels, which are currently at Northrop Grumman in Pascagoula, Miss. According to Adm. Vernon Clark, the Navy had reached the decision after its engineers examined one of the ships at the yard. Clark confirmed the Navy's decision when he appeared before the Seapower Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee by simply stating that the ships were not suitable for Naval use.