Wittman Receives Sea Services Award
WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) was selected to receive the 2017 Congressional Sea Services Award by the National Capital Council of the Navy League. Each year, the council selects a member of Congress who has shown unparalleled support for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Maritime Administration.
“Building the Navy, Marine Corps team is critical in this era in global power competition,” Wittman said. “Our world now is a very different, dangerous place, which means we must have the strongest possible Navy and Marine Corps team and we must increase the size of our Fleet to 355 ships. I am humbled to have the opportunity to advocate here on the Hill to make sure our Subcommittee does the job that is necessary to get that done. I am honored that the Navy League, an organization long committed to advocating on behalf of our Sea Services and its sailors, would select me for this prestigious award. I look forward to continuing to partner with the Navy League as we work to provide our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to defend our nation.”
The Sea Services award was presented by the National Capital Council of the Navy League's President Doug Denneny who said, "Every year our Council selects a member, on behalf of the Sea Services who has distinguished themselves for being a tireless advocate of the men and women of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, veterans and their families. This year, it was a unanimous choice by our board. Representative Wittman distinguished himself for his support of not only the members of the Sea Services, but his proactive leadership as the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee of the HASC. As its Chairman, and the co-chair of the shipbuilding caucus, Chairman Wittman's leadership ensured the strength of our Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, by ensuring our Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen have the ships, aircraft and weapons they need to perform their missions, and that our maritime industries remain vibrant in the face of resurgent threats across the globe."
Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Paul Zukunft, and Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Brian Beaudreault where among those in attendance. To commemorate the award, recipient names are engraved on the compass binnacle from the Sioux Falls Victory Ship, which served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Recent recipients of this award include Senator John McCain, Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Joe Courtney, and Congressman Randy Forbes.
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.
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