U.S. Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, delivered the following opening statement at a hearing on the capabilities of the submarine industrial base to meet the strategic objectives of the AUKUS partnership.
Rep. Kelly's remarks as prepared for delivery:
Good afternoon and welcome to today's Seapower & Projection Forces subcommittee hearing.
This hearing will examine the state of the shipyard industrial base and its ability to support the goals of the AUKUS partnership – particularly Pillar 1, which culminates with the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the early 2030s.
I support the AUKUS framework. It holds generational opportunity for partnership with the UK and Australia through technology sharing and integrated deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Most importantly, it sends a strong statement of unity against a growing threat in the region.
The 2022 National Defense Strategy describes the People's Republic of China as our most consequential strategic competitor for the coming decades.
Just this weekend, intelligence leaders from all the five eyes appeared on 60 minutes to warn that China is one of the greatest threats democracy has ever faced.
But of course, we have known this for quite some time. China's unprecedented military buildup and continued threats against sovereign territory throughout the Indo-Pacific are destabilizing the global rules-based order.
AUKUS will serve as a critical tool for continued deterrence against the PRC. The U.S. network of alliances and partnerships is a strategic advantage that competitors cannot match. Preparation for future conflicts – or deterring them from occurring in the first place – will rely on our ability to expand and enhance military partnerships.
Today's hearing will examine the shipyard industrial base's ability to support the eventual sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia.
To be frank, the industrial base has been challenged in recent years. Labor and supply chain issues, and 2 years of COVID, have strained our ability to construct 2 SSNs and 1 Columbia-class submarine per year as planned.
Additionally, over 1/3 of SSNs are stuck in maintenance backlogs, reducing the number of operationally ready SSNs to meet day-to-day mission demands.
In order to course correct, the Navy spent $2.3 billion from FY18-FY23 to build and strengthen Submarine Industrial Base capacity. Moving forward, the Administration initiated an additional 5-year, $2.4 billion investment.
The Navy is also leveraging concepts like strategic outsourcing, an example of which I saw firsthand at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. In partnership with Electric Boat, they are now constructing submarine modules on the Gulf Coast.
Looking forward, it is critical to secure Australia's commitment of an additional $3 billion investment through the successful passage of AUKUS-enabling legislation. Their financial input will complement our efforts, hastening the recovery process.
This subcommittee worked to add several measures in the HASC-passed NDAA to support the AUKUS framework and our industrial base, including additional SIB money and authorization of up to 13 attack submarines over the next multi-year contract.
Congress plays a key role, and I will continue to work to ensure that this year's NDAA contains language to meet the objectives set forth by AUKUS.
In sum, AUKUS will lead to a more integrated defense ecosystem that counterbalances the threats of strategic competition by harnessing collective capabilities. But we cannot accomplish this without a strong and stable industrial base.
I look forward to hearing today why it is so important to pass AUKUS legislation, the Navy's assessment of current and future submarine construction, and what plans the Navy has for smart strategic investments to accelerate timelines.
