Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) today introduced, with Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-04), a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to enter into contracts for the procurement of amphibious vessels to further realize the Navy’s goal of a 355-ship fleet.

“I am proud to introduce this piece of legislation with Representative Palazzo from the state of Mississippi,” Congressman Wittman said. “Amphibious ships are crucial to our national defense strategy and ability to project power globally. This legislation will allow for the multi-year procurement of three smaller amphibious ships and one large deck amphibious ship that will save the taxpayers almost a billion dollars by providing certainty to our defense industrial base. If Navy plans to procure these vessels, it is up to Congress to use multi-year procurement tools such as these to be as cost-efficient and effective as possible.”

This legislation allows the Secretary of the Navy to enter into one or more multiyear contracts for the procurement of three amphibious transport dock vessels and one amphibious landing helicopter assault vessel. Additionally, it directs that the procurement of the vessels must be consistent with the Navy’s most recent 30-year shipbuilding plan, as well as the most recent Planning Guidance from the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Full text of the legislation can be found here

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 serves as the ranking member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.