Joint Statement on Blumenauer Amendment to Strike Ohio Replacement Fund

Washington, D.C. - Representatives Joe Courtney (CT-2), Randy Forbes (VA-04), Rob Wittman (VA-01), and James Langevin (RI-02) released the following statement after soundly defeating the amendment offered by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) to eliminate the National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund by an overwhelming vote of 375 to 43:

"For years, Defense Department officials have underscored the vital importance of the Ohio Replacement program in testimony before the House Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee. This multigenerational investment in our national security strategy transcends the Navy's regular shipbuilding account. The Sea-Based Deterrence Fund will help to ensure that the Navy can execute the Ohio Replacement Program while also investing in a range of other critical shipbuilding programs and naval capabilities at the same time.

"We have worked on a bipartisan basis over the past few years to initiate a serious conversation about the Ohio Replacement funding strategy, and the Sea-Based Deterrence Fund builds on successful precedent like the Sealift Fund to achieve the major, necessary objective of replacing our SSBN fleet on time to maintain our undersea dominance and global presence. The resounding bipartisan defeat of this amendment ensures that we can continue to make progress in finding workable solutions for ensuring that this national strategic priority does not compromise the shipbuilding needs of the U.S. Navy."

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