Commander of U.S. Pacific Command Discusses Growth of China’s Submarine Fleet
On March 12, 2008, House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2009 budget request for the Pacific Command (PACOM). Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) questioned Admiral Timothy Keating, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, about the buildup of the Chinese Navy. In response to Rep. Courtney’s questioning, Admiral Keating talked about the size and capabilities of the Chinese submarine fleet, which he described as “good and getting better.” In addition, in response to a question Rep. Courtney asked about whether the size of the US attack submarine fleet was adequate to meet the rise of the Chinese Navy, Keating responded that “it is adequate to meet need -- but I could use more.”
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Voices Support for the U.S. Commercial Shipbuilding Industry
During the July 19, 2007, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee mark of the Maritime Administration Authorities Act of 2007 (S 1778), Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) highlighted the importance of the Maritime Administration and stressed the need for the United States to revitalize its commercial shipbuilding industry, maintaining a fleet of U.S.-built ships for this country’s transportation and economic independence. Click here to read Sen. Snowe’s statement.
House Authorizes the Procurement of 8 Ships –
FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1585)
On May 17th, the House of Representatives passed its version of H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill provides $15.1 billion for the procurement of eight ships. This is the first of four FY 2008 defense spending bills to be passed this year. The House bill funds the six ships contained in the Administration’s budget request, which includes one aircraft carrier, one Virginia class attack submarine, one amphibious transport dock ship, two littoral combat ships, and one combat force logistics ship in addition to funding for the completion of the first two multi-mission land attack destroyers. The House also authorized the addition of one LPD-17 amphibious transport dock ship and one T-AKE combat force logistics ship.
Key House Leader Calls for Increased Submarine Production –Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA), Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations
Subcommittee has been calling for increasing the Navy’s shipbuilding
budget this year, providing for the procurement of up to twelve ships.
This includes accelerating the procurement of the nation’s attack class s
ubmarines. Chairman Murtha stressed the importance of submarines to
America’s national security after visiting Electric Boat Corporation in
Groton, Connecticut. MSNBC April 10, 2007.Read Article.
To view videos on YouTube:
Hearing on U.S. Shipyard Capital Investments – Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS),
Chairman of the House Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee held a
hearing on March 20th, to examine ways to facilitate greater capital
investment in U.S. shipyards. Cynthia L. Brown, President of the American
Shipbuilding Association; Philip Teel, President of Northrop Grumman Ship
Systems; and Mike Toner, Executive Vice President of General Dynamics Marine
Operations Group testified on behalf of the shipbuilding industry as to the
importance of capital investments to improve efficiencies, and help to lower
the cost of naval ships. March 20, 2007.
Title XI Ship Loan Guarantee Hearing – On March 15th, the House Seapower and
Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee received testimony on the Maritime
Administration’s Title XI Ship Loan Guarantee Program under the Department
of Transportation. Title XI loan guarantees are vital to ensuring that small
and medium sized companies have access to affordable financing in order to
maintain a fleet of modern ships for America’s domestic waterborne
transportation needs. Cynthia L. Brown, President of the American
Shipbuilding Association testified as to Title XI’s importance in maintaining
the highly skilled jobs in U.S. shipyards and strengthening the entire
shipbuilding industrial base. March 15, 2007.
Submarine Force Structure Hearing – The House Seapower and Expeditionary
Forces Subcommittee held a hearing on March 8th regarding the nation’s
submarine force structure and the Navy’s acquisition plans for the U.S.
submarine fleet. John Casey, President of Electric Boat Corporation; Mike Petters, President of Northrop Grumman Newport News; and Winfred Nash,
President of BWXT Nuclear Operations Division testified on the state of the
U.S. submarine industrial base. March 8, 2007.
As a Sea Power Ambassador we hope you will spread the word about the declining American fleet and the need to rebuild America's Navy. Below are some materials you can use for such efforts. Feel free to make copies of these materials and distribute them as needed to build support for our efforts. You can download them by clicking the right mouse button on the links and selecting "Save Target As".
Lott: Congress Will Ignore Proposed Warship Cuts - If U.S. Navy officials decide to go through with proposed cuts in warship production, Congress will ignore it, U.S. Sen. Trent Lott said. Lott said, however, that the Congress and shipbuilding officials should not overreact to the proposal, which was described in news stories in The Washington Post and The Associated Press. Mississippi Press, September 11, 2004
Navy Plans to Buy Fewer Ships - Squeezed by budget constraints, the Navy is proposing significant cuts in its shipbuilding program that could batter the already struggling industry. Washington Post, September 7, 2004
American Shipbuilding Association Interview – MaritimeTV Interviews Cynthia Brown President, American Shipbuilding Association during ANSE Day. June 29, 2004
Navy May Cut Dozens of Ships, Thousands of Sailors, Official Says – The Navy's top leadership has decided to pursue radical changes in the size and shape of its forces, likely resulting in the service shrinking by "thousands of sailors" and scaling back plans to add a substantial number of ships in the next few years, a senior Navy official said Friday. April 24, 2004
Statement of Ms. Cynthia L. Brown, President American Shipbuilding Association – Before the House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Projection Forces on March 30, 2004 (PDF File)
National Naval Force Structure Policy Act Fact Sheet – learn more about the efforts underway in Congress to make a national policy to maintain a naval fleet of 375 ships, built around 15 aircraft carrier battle groups and 15 amphibious ready groups. (Microsoft Word File)
Sample Seapower Speech - This is a sample speech that can be used when talking to organizations about the state of American sea power. It can be delivered "as is" or edited as needed. (Microsoft Word File)
Sea Power Ambassadors: Building Support for U.S. Fleets – An article in Seapower magazine by Navy League of the United States president, Sheila M. McNeill, about the benefits of the Sea Power Ambassador program. Feel free to make copies and distribute as needed. (Adobe PDF file)
Navy News & Undersea Technology - "2003: New, Smaller Systems For A Different Sort Of War," by David Ahearn, January 5, 2004, Monday. "The year 2003 was a time of smaller but in many ways significant defense contracts, a time of turning to new concepts for systems to prosecute the war on terrorism."
