Rep. Rob Wittman Archives - Page 5 of 5

Block V Virginia-Class Deal Meets Muted Response in Congress

4 November 2019

Rendering of Block V Virginia-class submarine with Virginia Payload Module. General Dynamics Electric Boat Image

The Navy and General Dynamics Electric Boat appear to have reached an agreement to build nine Block V Virginia-class submarines with an option for a tenth, but the pending deal is getting tepid applause from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

The chair and ranking member of the House Armed Services seapower and projection of forces subcommittee released statements applauding a long-awaited...

https://news.usni.org/2019/11/04/block-v-virginia-class-deal-meets-muted-response-in-congress

Pence: No Early Retirement for USS Harry S. Truman

30 April 2019

Vice President Mike Pence aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on April 30, 2019. White House Photo

The White House budget proposal to skip a scheduled refueling of aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) appears to have lost support in the Trump Administration, according to Vice President Mike Pence.

While touring Truman Tuesday, Pence addressed the crew in the ship’s hangar bay and quickly stated the plan to retire the carrier two decades early was now quashed, according to several media...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/30/pence-no-early-retirement-for-uss-harry-s-truman

After Hearings, Lawmakers Call Truman Carrier Retirement Plan ‘Ridiculous’

28 March 2019

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transits the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 12, 2018. US Navy photo.

CAPITOL HILL – Lawmakers told industry representatives today that, if it wasn’t already clear from their hearings with Pentagon and Navy leadership this week, they had no intention of letting the Defense Department shed an aircraft carrier instead of refuel it.

“I think that’s’ a ridiculous idea,” Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.), a retired Navy commander and current representative...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/28/after-navy-hearings-lawmakers-still-call-truman-carrier-retirement-plan-ridiculous

HASC Leaders Unconvinced by Pentagon’s Plan to Cut Aircraft Carrier

26 March 2019

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Sept 22, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Defense Department’s first crack at convincing the House Armed Services Committee to retire an aircraft carrier early to support the development of future weapons systems and unmanned platforms was not well received.

Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford reiterated their pitch for not refueling USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) today – it will fund the...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/26/hasc-leaders-remain-unconvinced-of-pentagons-need-to-plan-for-carrier-retirement-in-2020-budget

White House’s Navy Priorities Outlined in Budget Summary

11 March 2019

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

Navy Awards 2-Carrier Contract to Newport News Shipbuilding

31 January 2019

The final piece of the underwater hull of the future aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is lowered into place at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding in September. Photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

THE PENTAGON – The Navy awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding a contract for two aircraft carriers, the first of its kind since the 1980s.

The two-carrier buy covers CVN-80 and 81. The Office of the Secretary of Defense signed off...

https://news.usni.org/2019/01/31/navy-awards-2-carrier-contract-newport-news-shipbuilding

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