WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) and Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-03) introduced H.R. 2609, the “Naval Readiness Act”. This bipartisan bill would extend the requirement for the Annual Report on Material Readiness of Navy Ships, a report generated from an inspection known as INSURV, indefinitely. The Naval Readiness Act not only strikes the expiration date for reporting on INSURV results, but breaks out the reporting into a form that provides a cleared benchmark on fleet readiness. Announcing his bill, Congressman Wittman stated:
“INSURV gives us a snapshot of the material condition of our fleet, and a thorough one at that. It’s not the most popular program on the deck-plate; from the most junior enlisted to the most senior officer, it is a dreaded inspection, but a necessary one. It ensures that every submarine that submerges, surfaces; every warship that deploys, returns home.”
“As it stands, the law mandates that the Annual Report be unclassified. This waters down the report due to the sensitive nature of material readiness. H.R. 2609 would require results be broken into both an unclassified and classified report, the former releasable to the public and the latter briefed directly to Congress,” Congressman Wittman continued, “We cherish our men and women in uniform and want to ensure they’re provided the tools they need to succeed – this legislation would tell us exactly what those are.”
“The INSURV program is critically important to ensure that Congress can continue to perform its oversight responsibilities of the Navy. This legislation removes the unnecessary expiration date for INSURV and ensures that the program will continue and a comprehensive report will be submitted to Congress annually. As Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I’ve seen firsthand how much this program is needed to monitor and report Naval readiness and sustainment. I am pleased to support Congressman Wittman in introducing this legislation, and I will work tirelessly to ensure it becomes law,” said Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA).
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 Vice Ranking Member of the full Committee and Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.
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www.Wittman.house.gov
