HASC

House, Senate Defense Bills Tough on Littoral Combat Ship Programs

Freedom-class LCS St. Louis (LCS-19), left, in Marinette, Wisc., on Dec. 15, 2018, as Billings (LCS-15) is under construction and preparing for commissioning. US Navy Photo

The Navy is ready to sunset littoral combat ship production and three of four congressional defense committees appear happy to oblige through restrictive policies and funding authorizations.

Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) members included language prohibiting the use of funds to extend the LCS program except in a...

https://news.usni.org/2019/06/13/house-senate-defense-bills-tough-on-littoral-combat-ship-programs

House Committee Votes to Prohibit Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons on Submarines

The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN-727) arrives in Busan for a regularly scheduled port visit while conducting routine patrols throughout the Western Pacific. US Navy Photo

The House Armed Services Committee added several provisions to its annual defense authorization bill, but the among most contentious was if the Pentagon should develop a low-yield nuclear weapon to deploy on nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).

Support for and arguments against the strategic...

https://news.usni.org/2019/06/13/house-committee-votes-to-prohibit-low-yield-nuclear-weapons-on-submarines

Pacific Commander Davidson Asks Congress to Fund ‘Regain the Advantage’ Plan Aimed at China

Adm. Phil Davidson participates in an honors ceremony at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in New Zealand in 2018. US Navy Photo

The head of U.S. forces in the Pacific has asked Congress to support several new initiatives to increase American military power in the region beyond what has been set aside in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget request, according to a March 22 letter obtained by USNI News.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command commander Adm. Phil Davidson asked for support for new capabilities that...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/18/pacific-commander-davidson-asks-congress-to-fund-regain-the-advantage-plan-aimed-at-china

STRATCOM Commander Wants to Put Low Yield Nuclear Missiles on U.S. Submarines

An undated artist’s rendering of the planned Columbia-class submarine. Naval Sea Systems Command Image

CAPITOL HILL – If the U.S. opts to develop low-yield nuclear missiles, expect the Navy to deploy these weapons as part of the nation’s undersea nuclear deterrent, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command told lawmakers Thursday.

If developed, the U.S. low-yield nuclear weapons would fall within limits set by the New START nuclear arms treaty, Air Force Gen. John Hyton, commander of U.S. Strategic...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/28/42238

White House’s Navy Priorities Outlined in Budget Summary

President Donald J. Trump speaks to service members and their families onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella during an all-hands call in 2017. US Navy Photo

President Donald Trump released his Fiscal Year 2020 budget priorities Monday, which includes several Navy programs he intends to fund in his $718-billion Department of Defense budget request.

The White House request includes adding a third Virginia-class attack submarine to the Navy’s planned FY 2020 purchase and a third Arleigh Burke-class...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/11/white-houses-navy-priorities-outlined-budget-summary

Document: A Brief Summary of Defense Authorization, Appropriations Bills Since 1961

The following is the Congressional Research Service report, Defense Authorization and Appropriations Bills: FY1961-FY2019.

From the Report

The passage of the Department of Defense (DOD) authorization and appropriations bills through Congress often does not follow the course laid out in textbooks on legislative procedure. Tracking DOD authorization or appropriation bills can be confusing and time-consuming. This has been particularly true in recent years, when continuing resolutions (CRs)...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/21/document-brief-summary-defense-authorization-appropriations-bills-since-1961

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