May 13, 2010: Congressman Wittman Strips Funding for Carrier Move to Florida

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) aimed at stopping the transfer of an aircraft carrier from Norfolk, Virginia to Mayport, Florida.  Wittman and his Virginia colleagues offered the amendment during consideration of the annual defense policy legislation in the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee.

"With an already strained defense budget and rapidly increasing federal government spending, this redundant homeport creates an unnecessary burden on the budget. Before the Navy begins the process of spending $1 billion to create a second homeport for nuclear aircraft carriers on the East Coast, the Navy should instead focus on the backlogs in ship repairs and other Navy priorities in need of funding.  Today, I supported this amendment to prevent two million dollars from being allocated to this development, and the beginning of what could be many wasteful construction dollars," Wittman said.

The amendment prevented $2 million from being allocated to begin the planning and design for military construction projects needed to relocate the aircraft carrier. The amendment passed with bipartisan support.

Earlier this week, the Government Accountability Office released a report that highlighted the Navy's flawed process when choosing bases and homeports for Naval vessels.  Wittman ordered the study last year during consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2010.  "I feel that Congress needs to step in to ensure that we continue to make fully informed decisions before we move our assets and further squeeze an overdrawn budget," Wittman concluded.

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He serves on the Natural Resources Committee and the Armed Services Committee where he is the Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.