Press Releases

Wittman Backs House Passage of Defense Authorization

Seapower, local priorities included

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, backed House passage of H.R. 5515, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19 NDAA).

The bill is the main mechanism through which Congress "provides for the common defense" of our nation. This bill equips, supplies, and trains our troops; cares for them and their families; and sets national security policy in a dangerous world. The authorization calls for base budget requirements of $617 billion, increases the size of Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Guard, and Naval and Air Reserve to be proportionate with the threats we face, and fully funds a 2.6% pay raise for our troops. For 57 years, this piece of bipartisan legislation has been signed into law as it is what is necessary to support our troops and set the defense policy for our nation.

"It is painfully obvious that our nation’s military is at a crossroads. We can choose to retreat from the world and allow other nations to dictate the circumstances of our national security, or we can choose to lead from the front and shape the affairs of our defense strategy. I choose the latter. I choose a military that can provide for our domestic security and is capable of protecting our national interests abroad,” Rep. Wittman said. "The FY19 NDAA shows to our Armed Forces and to the world that Congress supports our men and women in uniform. This defense authorization provides the right capabilities to support our warfighters, including the 13 ships I have been fighting for that would support the Navy and reach our national policy of 355 ships. I believe this NDAA takes important steps towards restoring our military readiness and giving our Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force the tools and resources they need to deter our adversaries, support our allies, and respond to threats around the globe."

The FY19 NDAA contains numerous Seapower provisions and local priorities critical to Virginia.

Specific Seapower and Projection Forces provisions included in the NDAA for FY19:

• Authorizes a total of 13 ships, which includes the 10 original ships in the fiscal year 2019 budget request: twoVirginia-class submarines, three DDG 51Arleigh Burkedestroyers; one Littoral Combat Ship (LCS); two T-AO 205 oilers; one Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB); and one T-ATS towing, salvage, and rescue ship. In addition to these ten, the bill adds three battle force ships, including oneFord-class aircraft carrier and two additional LCS for a total of 13 ships;
• Specifically authorizes the procurement of CVN-81, the fourthFord-class aircraft carrier;
• Recommends long lead time material funding in fiscal year 2019 for two additionalVirginia-class submarines in fiscal years 2022 and 2023;
• Authorizes multiyear procurement for the Marine Corps’ next amphibious ship class, LPD Flight II;
• Authorizes the multiyear procurement associated with 625 SM-6 missiles at a rate of 125 missiles per year;
• Recommends an expansion in critical enablers including LRASM, Tomahawk, MK-48 heavyweight torpedoes, and sonobuoys;
• Authorizes the multiyear procurement of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft;
• Full funding for the B-21 Raider program;
• Establishes a floor of 479 air refueling tanker aircraft in the Air Force inventory, subject to the results of the Mobility Capability and Requirements Study 2018;
• Full funding for the VC-25B Presidential Recapitalization Aircraft program;
• Continues support for the propulsion and propeller upgrades of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130H airlift aircraft;
• Retains the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) until a replacement capability can be developed;
• Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to enter into a contract for 10 foreign-built, used sealift vessels concurrent with a plan to construct 10 new sealift vessels;
• Limits Military Sealift Command fiscal year 2019 expenditures until the Secretary of the Navy has entered into a contract for two vessels and has completed the requirements documentation for the construction of 10 new sealift vessels;
• Requires Ready Reserve Fleet vessel upgrades to comply with SOLIS lifeboat and fire suppression requirements;
• Limits the acquisition of foreign-built training ships and requires construction of the National Security Multi Mission Vessel in U.S. shipyards to support these State Maritime Academies training requirements; and
• Establishes increase in Maritime Security Program (MSP) funding to ensure retention of 60 MSP vessels.

Local Priorities in NDAA for FY19 include:

• Protects and creates Virginia Maritime Industrial Base Jobs:
• Block Aircraft Carrier Buy: This dual buy will be beneficial to both the taxpayers and to our Virginia maritime industrial base as it shows that Congress is committed to the thousands of workers who build and maintain aircraft carriers every day.
• Authorizes long lead time material funding in fiscal year 2019 for two additional Virginia-class submarines in fiscal years 2022 and 2023: These submarines are made right here in Virginia. By investing in these items, we are sending a strong message to our industrial base that they will have job security.
• Requires the Navy to provide further information before moving a critical capability from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren: I submitted language that requires a reportwithin 90 daysof the passage of NDAA that details the full economic impact and risk of moving the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Defense Division from the NSWC in Dahlgren. This will provide further clarity for a potential move.
• Retains the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) until a replacement can be developed, which is homeported in Norfolk, Virginia. This is critical as it provides a faster response for disaster relief on the east coast.
• Makes progress on receiving funding for the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge, Yorktown, VA. This bill requires the Commander, U.S. Transportation Command to review the feasibility of including the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge in the federally funded Strategic Highways Network, a system of roads deemed necessary for mobilization and movement of critical commodities to support U.S. military operations.
• Provides an additional $10 million to the Rocket Systems Launch Program for places like Wallops Flight Facility operated by NASA in Accomack County, Virginia.
• Directs the Navy to enter into an aggressive schedule to recapitalize the surge sealift fleet, many of which are in Hampton Roads.

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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