Rep. Joe Courtney

Congress Overrides Trump Defense Bill Veto

NASA Photo

The Senate voted 81 to 13 to override President Donald Trump’s veto of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act in a rare New Year’s Day session.

“Today, the Senate sent a strong message of support to our troops by voting to make the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act law,” Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said in a Friday statement. “I’m glad the Senate voted once again, by a wide bipartisan margin, for this bill — the...

https://news.usni.org/2021/01/01/congress-overrides-trump-defense-bill-veto

NDAA Conference Report Includes 2 Virginia Subs

Virginia-class submarine Delaware (SSN-791) was moved out of a construction facility into a floating dry dock using a transfer car system in 2018. HII Photo

Congressional authorizers have worked out a deal that would approve funding for two Virginia-class submarines, both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees announced Thursday.

The Fiscal Year 2021 defense policy conference report authorizes money for two Virginia-class boats and advanced procurement money so the Navy can continue...

https://news.usni.org/2020/12/03/ndaa-conference-report-includes-2-virginia-subs

Senate Appropriators Allot $21.35B for Shipbuilding; 1 Virginia-Class Attack Boat

Sailors aboard USS Delaware (SSN-791) on Nov. 5, 2019. US Navy Photo

Senate appropriators are proposing $21.35 billion for Navy shipbuilding that would fund nine battleforce ships, according to the text of the legislation that was released on Tuesday.

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s funding allocation for a total of nine battleforce ships in its draft of the Fiscal Year 2021 defense spending bill is an increase from the eight the Navy sought in its request earlier this year.

The legislation...

https://news.usni.org/2020/11/10/senate-appropriators-allot-21-35b-for-shipbuilding-1-virginia-class-attack-boat

Navy Claims Victories in Modernizing Public Yards While Congress Questions Pace

USS Boise (SSN 764) arrived at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division to begin its 25-month extended engineering overhaul on June 18, 2018, but ultimately had to return to Naval Station Norfolk to continue awaiting maintenance because there was no room at Newport News for the sub amid two other boats’ maintenance overruns. Huntington Ingalls Industries’ photo.

The Navy is moving into the next phase of a wholesale revision of its ship maintenance infrastructure. Last...

https://news.usni.org/2020/10/19/navy-claims-victories-in-modernizing-public-yards-while-congress-questions-pace

Senate Passes FY 2021 Defense Authorization Bill by Large Margin

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN 780) departs Pearl Harbor on May 10, 2020, after completing a scheduled extended dry-docking selected restricted availability (EDSRA). Missouri’s routine maintenance and modernization work was completed five days ahead of schedule after successful sea trials and certification. US Navy photo

The Senate passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act with an 86 to 14 vote, following the House passing its...

https://news.usni.org/2020/07/23/senate-passes-fy-2021-defense-authorization-bill-by-large-margin

House Appropriations Bill Includes Funding for Second Virginia-Class Submarine

Sailors aboard to Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Delaware (SSN-791) on Nov. 5, 2019. US Navy Photo

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee today released its draft Fiscal Year 2021 defense funding bill that would buy nine Navy ships, including the second Virginia-class attack submarine that the House Armed Services Committee is fighting to include in next year’s ship-buying plans.

The HAC-D legislation includes $22.3 billion in shipbuilding funds for the first Columbia-class ballistic missile...

https://news.usni.org/2020/07/07/house-appropriations-bill-includes-funding-for-second-virginia-class-submarine

House Armed Services Committee Adds Money for EPF, Footstomps Need for Second Virginia SSN

Moon over U.S. Capitol on Nov. 13, 2016. NASA Photo

The House Armed Services Committee reiterated its support for Navy shipbuilding today in an all-day markup of its annual defense bill, voting to include money for an additional Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) and issuing an opening argument to the Senate for an additional Virginia-class attack submarine.

A key difference in the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act is the Virginia SSN program....

President of Sub Builder Electric Boat Tests Positive for COVID-19

Attack boat Vermont (SSN-792) float-off on March 29, 2019. General Dynamics Electric Boats Photo

The president of submarine builder General Dynamics Electric Boat has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, according to a Saturday statement from the company.

In a message to employees, Kevin Graney said he received the diagnosis after experiencing mild symptoms of fever and chills and sought out a test for the virus in the last several days.

“I will be out of the plant until I am cleared by medical...

https://news.usni.org/2020/04/04/president-of-sub-builder-electric-boat-tests-positive-for-covid-19

Lawmakers Still Lack Details on Pentagon Shipbuilding Plan

USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) during construction at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. BIW photo

Two senior lawmakers said they don’t have enough information to evaluate the Trump administration’s “hard rudder turn” on its shipbuilding budget that was presented last month to Congress.

“We’re weeks away from having to put this thing away,” and his panel doesn’t have the documents it requires for oversight, Rep. Joe Courtney, (D-Conn.), said on Monday at the Hudson Institute. Secretary of Defense...

https://news.usni.org/2020/03/10/lawmakers-still-lack-details-on-pentagon-shipbuilding-plan

INDO-PACOM Commander: New Warfighting Concept Requires More Joint Training, Ranges to Prep for Tougher Fights

Adm. Phil Davidson, participates in an honors ceremony at the Brunei Ministry of Defence on September 10, 2020. U.S..S. Navy Photo

SAN DIEGO, Calif. –The future force must transform into one that’s jointly trained and integrated across all warfighting domains and with regional allies and partners to counter threats including China’s growing military and global influence, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said on Tuesday.

“New geopolitical realities, expanding warfighting domains, and...

https://news.usni.org/2020/03/04/indo-pacom-commander-new-warfighting-concept-requires-more-joint-training-ranges-to-prep-for-tougher-fights

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