Friend,

As vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I have worked to ensure we bring the capability of our Navy closer to meeting the reality of the threats facing the United States and to project power around the globe to deter our adversaries. 

Virginia is home to the Pentagon, 27 military bases, the largest military shipbuilder in the country, the world’s largest naval station at Naval Station Norfolk, and largest concentration of U.S. Navy forces, as well as many Department of Defense civilians. With 19% of Virginia’s economy coming from defense spending, the work we put forward reverberates through the Commonwealth and benefits our state immensely. 

I wanted to make sure you saw this recent piece from the Augusta Free Press, which recognizes our bipartisan work to ensure stable funding for the Hampton Roads shipbuilding ecosystem.

You can read the letter I sent to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to advocate for this critical funding here.

Virginia lawmakers push DoD to secure Hampton Roads shipbuilding funding

By: Rebecca Barnabi

January 5, 2024 

Several Virginia lawmakers are concerned about the assurance of U.S. Department of Defense funding for the Hampton Roads shipbuilding ecosystem in 2024.

Before Christmas, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan of Virginia joined Congressman Rob Wittman, vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Virginia Reps. Jen Kiggans and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott to urge Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to ensure aircraft carrier procurement funding remains on track. …

According to Wittman, stable and predictable shipbuilding timelines are important for a healthy industrial base ecosystem which provides economic benefits to thousands of Virginians.

“Any delays in funding for the next Ford­­-class carrier would be extremely disruptive to our Navy’s ability to project power and provide for our national security,” Wittman said. …

The Virginia delegation members also touted the more than $5 billion in cost savings and stability that multi-ship buys would generate for the Navy and the shipbuilding industrial base.

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Sincerely,