Congress

Report to Congress on U.S. Special Operations Forces

The following is the Oct. 29, 2018 Congressional Research Service report, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress.

From the Report:

Special Operations Forces (SOF) play a significant role in U.S. military operations and, in recent years, have been given greater responsibility for planning and conducting worldwide counterterrorism operations. U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has about 70,000 Active Duty, National Guard, and reserve personnel from all four...

https://news.usni.org/2018/11/01/37763

Icebreakers carry on, as new funding remains uncertain

Scientists and engineers deploy an ice tethered profiler on the Arctic ice Sept. 30, 2018, about 350 miles northeast of Barrow, Alaska, from the Coast Guard icebreaker Healy. NyxoLyno Cangemi/Coast Guard photo.

The Coast Guard completed science missions with one of its remaining icebreakers while repairing the other this summer, as uncertainty continues over when the government will start building the first new polar ship in decades.

The crew of the 420’ medium icebreaker Healy completed their second mission of their Arctic West Summer 2018 deployment Oct. 18, returning to their Seattle homeport after studying stratified ocean dynamics in the Arctic (SODA) for the Office of Naval Research.

The project,...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/icebreakers-carry-on-as-new-funding-remains-uncertain/

Legislation unleashes billions for waterway infrastructure

America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) authorizes an estimated $3.8 billion in new Army Civil Works projects, fiscal year 2019 appropriations of $7 billion, and emergency supplemental funds of $17.4 billion. The legislation includes the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (WRDA). Corps of Engineers photo

America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) was signed off on by Congress and the President this week, authorizing an estimated $3.8 billion in new Army Civil Works projects, fiscal year 2019 appropriations of $7 billion, and emergency supplemental funds of $17.4 billion. The legislation includes the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (WRDA).

Passing in the Senate with a vote of 99 to 1, AWIA 2018 demonstrates the importance of federal water resource projects across the U.S. The action...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/legislation-unleashes-billions-for-waterway-infrastructure/

Report to Congress on U.S. Navy Frigate (FFG(X)) Program

The following is the Oct. 22, 2018 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Frigate (FFG(X)) Program: Background and Issues for Congress.

The Navy in 2017 initiated a new program, called the FFG(X) program, to build a class of 20 guided-missile frigates (FFGs). The Navy wants to procure the first FFG(X) in FY2020, the second in FY2021, and the remaining 18 at a rate of two per year in FY2022-FY2030. The Navy’s proposed FY2019 budget requests $134.8 million in research and development funding...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/24/report-congress-u-s-navy-frigate-ffgx-program-4

Report to Congress on Virginia-Class Attack Submarine Program

The following is the Oct. 22, 2018 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress.

From the report

The Navy has been procuring Virginia (SSN-774) class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998. The two Virginia-class boats that the Navy has requested for procurement in FY2019 would be the 29th and 30th boats in the class, and the first two to be covered under a multiyear procurement (MYP) contract...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/23/report-congress-virginia-class-attack-submarine-program-6

Report to Congress on Iran Sanctions

The following is the Sept. 26, 2018 Congressional Research Service report, Iran Sanctions.

From the report

During 2012-2015, when the global community was relatively united in pressuring Iran, Iran’s economy shrank by 9% per year, crude oil exports fell from about 2.5 million barrels per day (mbd) to about 1.1 mbd, and Iran was unable to repatriate more than $120 billion in Iranian reserves held in banks abroad. The 2015 multilateral nuclear accord (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA)...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/05/report-congress-iran-sanctions-4

Three years later, Congress moves for El Faro safety reforms

The wreck of the El Faro. NTSB photo.

Congress has ordered a sweeping package of maritime safety reforms, three years after the 790’ containership El Faro sank in Hurricane Joaquin with all 33 on board.

Congress passed the legislation, a few days before the third anniversary of the Oct. 1, 2015 disaster. In the crew’s homeport of Jacksonville, Fla., where a city park was renamed to honor the crew in 2016, the mayor and city council declared Monday “El Faro 33 Memorial Day.”

The Congressional action awaiting President Trump’s...

https://www.workboat.com/news/bluewater/three-years-later-congress-moves-for-el-faro-safety-reforms/

Coast Guard inland cutters next in building program

At 72 years in service, the cutter Smilax is the oldest vessel of the Coast Guard inland fleet. Coast Guard photo.

With $25 million added by Congress in the 2018 budget, the Coast Guard can move ahead with designing its new class of waterway commerce cutters to replace an aged inland fleet, Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz told members of Congress Wednesday.

“I’ve got ships in that fleet that are 72 years old,” said Schultz, referring to the 100’ cutter Smilax, during his first appearance as commandant before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Billed as an update on Coast Guard...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/coast-guard-inland-cutters-next-in-building-program/

California congressman honored by American Maritime Partnership

Rep. John Garamendi, center, received a

The American Maritime Partnership honored Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., with a “Champion of Maritime” award for his years of work in Congress supporting the industry.

Garamendi, the ranking Democratic member of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, “has shown unwavering and ardent support for domestic maritime,” the industry coalition said in announcing the award.

The award was presented to Garamendi Sept. 17 at the California State University Maritime Academy.

Rep....

https://www.workboat.com/news/people-and-products/california-congressman-honored-by-american-maritime-partnership/

Report to Congress on Iran’s Foreign and Defense Policy

The following is the Sept. 11, 2018 Congressional Research Service report Iran’s Foreign and Defense Policies.

From the report

Iran’s national security policy is the product of many overlapping and sometimes competing factors such as the ideology of Iran’s Islamic revolution; perception of threats to the regime and to the country; long-standing Iranian national interests; and the interaction of the Iranian regime’s factions and constituencies. Iran’s leadership:

  • seeks to deter or thwart U.S. or...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/19/report-congress-irans-foreign-defense-policy

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