Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) highlighted the passage of his $2.2 million funding request to construct shore power infrastructure for Virginia Class submarines at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown. The funds, submitted through Community Project Funding (CPF) in the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, were passed by the House and signed into law on November 12, 2025, as part of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371 - Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026. Separately, this legislation also includes $1.5 billion to support the Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization program. This investment is a critical step toward boosting American shipbuilding, including at Virginia’s Norfolk Naval Shipyard.  

“Virginia Class submarines are critical to our national security and are the backbone of our undersea advantage over adversaries such as China and Russia,” said Rep. Wittman, “Ensuring that these submarines have access to the necessary support infrastructure at NWS Yorktown will increase their availability to Navy decision makers, enabling them to complete critical missions that keep our country safe. I was proud to see this critical funding signed into law and look forward to this project’s completion.” 

Currently, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is not capable of providing maximum shore power for Virginia-class submarines. Without the power upgrade this funding supports, inadequate shore power will decrease operational capacity, leading to increased cost and limiting deployment. To combat operational issues, this funding will be used to construct a loading and unloading substation, extending the shore power relied upon by Virginia Class submarines.  

Community Project Funding (CPF) allows Members of Congress to bring tax dollars back home for district-specific priorities. Members have firsthand knowledge of their district’s needs and can prioritize federal funding for the most critical local projects—rather than leaving those decisions to unelected bureaucrats in Washington who lack a direct connection to the community. For Congressman Wittman, these projects address clear and present needs in communities across Virginia and enjoy broad support. The federal dollars designated for CPF projects exist within existing budget limits, reinforcing Congress’s control over the power of the purse. Rather than allowing that money to fund projects in different states, Community Project Funding gives Congressman Wittman the ability to empower Virginians by ensuring they have a critical voice in determining where budgeted funding goes.