Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus News

The Gulf States Shipbuilders Consortium (GSSC) announced that its fall meeting will be held October 18-19, at the Holiday Inn in Mobile’s historic district. Highlights of the meeting include a presentation by U.S. Representative Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope). Byrne will deliver an Update from Washington at the official meeting kick-off at the recently opened GulfQuest Maritime Museum on Oct. 18. Byrne is a member of the prestigious House Rules Committee, Committee on Armed Services, and Committee on Education and the Workforce and is a member of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus.

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…

The American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) will present many of its most prestigious awards this week at ASNE Day 2012. In addition to the notable guest presenters listed below, the ASNE Day Honors Gala will feature remarks by The Honorable Rob Wittman (VA-1), Co-Chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus. ASNE Day 2012 wraps up on Friday with remarks by guest speaker The Honorable Sean J. Stackley , Assistant Secretary of the Navy (RDA) at the Annual Awards Luncheon. - Frank G. Presented by Mr. Ronald K. Kiss to Dr. Presented by RADM Thomas J. Eccles, USN to Dr. Presented by VADM John T. Blake, USN to Mr. John C. - Clifford G. Presented by RADM Ronald J. Rábago, USCG to Mr. Jeffery G. Presented by RDML Thomas G. Wears, USN to Mr. Jeffrey E. - Claud A. Presented by RADM Ronald J.

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA)  announced that Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding Divisions and General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics NASSCO is currently a member of the SCA) have joined its national trade association. The move will enhance SCA’s ability to communicate the critical role that the shipbuilding and repair sectors play in bolstering economic, national and homeland security. “Today’s announcement is an important development for the effective representation of the shipyard industry in our nation’s capital. The integration of these major defense construction…

The Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, Co-Chaired by Representatives Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Rob Wittman (R-VA), hosted a meeting with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Robert J. Papp, to discuss the Coast Guard’s ship force structure needs, its missions, future threats, and the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Members of the Caucus in attendance were Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA). Admiral Papp conveyed the difficulty the Coast Guard has in keeping its major programs funded sufficiently. The Admiral discussed specific programs such as the National Security Cutter (NSC), the Fast Response Cutter (FRC), and the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC).

The Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, chaired by Reps. Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Rob Wittman (R-VA), has reached a major milestone with the addition of its 100th member. The Caucus was established in 2005 to educate lawmakers about the shipbuilding industry. The Caucus also works to promote the enactment of budgets and policies geared toward rebuilding our sea services and shipbuilding industrial base. Today, it is one of the largest and most proactive caucuses in Congress. “As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional responsibility to maintain our nation’s naval fleet,” Congressman Taylor said. The shipbuilding industry is not just confined to states that have shipyards. There are 47 states that have first-tier manufacturers making systems and components for ships.

Rob Whittman was announced as the new Co-chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus. The announcement came from Congressman Gene Taylor, another Co-Chair for the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus. Congressman Wittman was elected on December 11, 2007 during a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the late Jo Ann Davis. The Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus was founded by Congressman Taylor and Congressman Davis in January 2005. The Caucus was intended as a forum for which members of Congress could discuss shipbuilding issues that would impact their districts. The Caucus currently has 98 members. Source: WAVY

WASHINGTON, DC – After reviewing the President’s defense budget and hearing testimony from the Secretary of the Navy on Thursday, Congressman Gene Taylor (D-MS) expressed his concern about the number of ships funded under the FY06 defense budget request. “The Navy’s request for reductions in several important shipbuilding programs will leave the United States short of the fleet size needed to meet existing security requirements,” Taylor said. A senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and co-chairman of the newly formed Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, Taylor articulated his dismay over the declining number of ships in the U.S. Navy fleet. “The shrinking is not just about numbers, but about reduced capabilities that threaten our national security.

Congressman Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) convened the first meeting of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus today. Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Vern Clark, was the first guest speaker at the closed session. In comments during the Caucus meeting, Taylor expressed his worry that the current 290-ship fleet is well-below the Navy’s recommended requirements. "If enacted, the proposed FY06 Navy shipbuilding budget doesn’t fix the situation. In fact, this budget would only undercut our ability to fight the Global War on Terror and meet the national security challenges of the future," said Taylor. Taylor also conveyed his great concern over the Navy’s recent announcement to re-open the competition for the DD(X) destroyer.

The Department of Defense announced that they would back off a previously announced Navy proposal to conduct a winner-take-all competition between shipyards for the construction of the next generation destroyer DD(X). According to the President's fiscal year 2006 budget, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Mississippi, was scheduled to build the first three DD(X) destroyers, with Maine's General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard building two additional ships. However, changes to the shipbuilding budget triggered the Navy to explore a revised bidding process that would have created a winner-take-all competition between Northrop Grumman and Bath Iron Works. "You're looking at a situation where one shipyard would likely be forced out of business.

The Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus met yesterday with shipbuilding industry officials to discuss commercial and military shipbuilding priorities. The event was part of the Shipbuilding Industry Day Conference hosted by the American Shipbuilding Association. During a discussion among members of Congress, presidents of the Big Six shipyards, shipbuilding labor representatives, and major ship system and component manufacturers from across the country, the group outlined the threats facing the Nation if our naval fleet and shipbuilding industry continue to decline. Shipbuilding Caucus co-chairs Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) and Congressman Gene Taylor (D-MS) were joined by Congressmen Tom Allen (D-ME)…

The Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus (CSC) co-chaired by Representatives Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), met with ship component manufacturers on the impact that low rates of naval shipbuilding have had on their companies and the challenges confronting the ship manufacturing industrial base. The ship manufacturers that met with the Caucus included: Mr. Craig Hansen of BWXT/ Babcock and Wilcox in Mount Vernon, IN; Mr. Walter Herr of Fairbanks Morse Engine in Beloit, WI; Mr. Roy Arnold of IMECO, Inc. in Iron Mountain, MI; Mr. Michael Stobbart of Lister Chain and Forge, Inc. in Blaine, WA; and Mr. Terry Sterling of Nelson Stud Welding in Elyria, OH.

The American Shipbuilding Association (ASA) announced that Representative Jo Ann S. Davis (R-VA) would be the 2006 recipient of the Herbert H. Bateman Award. This award will be presented on June 28th during ASA’s Salute to the 109th Congress reception in the Gold Room (2168) of the Rayburn House Office Building. Representative Jo Ann Davis succeeded Congressman Herbert H. Bateman in representing the 1st congressional district of Virginia. She was elected in November 2000, and has served 6 years in the House of Representatives. “Representative Davis has been a tireless leader in Congress in promoting a strong shipbuilding industry. She is the founding co-chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, and in 18 months has grown the caucus to over 100 members. Ms.

On Friday, June 23, 2006, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME); Jack Reed (D-RI); Trent Lott (R-MS); Jim Talent (R-MO); Olympia Snowe (R-ME); Christopher Dodd (D-CT); Lincoln Chafee (R-RI); Mike Dewine (R-OH); Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Daniel Akaka (D-HI), David Vitter (R-LA); Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ); Bill Nelson (D-FL); Joe Leiberman (D-CT); Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and; Mary Landrieu (D-LA) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumseld, asking him to increase the Navy’s top line budget for the purpose of increasing the ship procurement budget in fiscal year 2008. The request comes on the heels of a letter sent by members of the House of Representatives Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus urging support for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Michael C.