Today, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's Markup." For information and to watch the markup click here.
"Shipbuilding is a slow, deliberate process. It takes years of patience and persistence to build a credible force. It starts with a vision and a sufficient industrial base. It requires funding stability and an effective acquisition agency. In short, it is a team sport that requires all the players of the team to work together toward a common goal.
Fortunately, I think that we have the recipe for a successful strategy to obtain the Navy the nation needs. Admiral Richardson has the 355-ship vision, Secretary Spencer has provided acquisition excellence and the industrial base is poised and ready. The last step to complete the plan is for congress to provide the authority to move forward.
Deliberately, we laid the groundwork for success in last year's FY18 NDAA by providing congressional support for expanded procurement of both Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Virginia-class attack submarines. Even with these key additions, we still had more work to do.
Therefore, in this year's FY19 mark, we close the gap on aircraft carrier construction and authorize CVN-81. Building aircraft carriers on a shorter cadence is essential to saving money and delivering the 12-aircraft carrier force structure the Navy needs. We also accelerate the rate of Virginia-class attack submarine construction to include additional submarines in fiscal years 2022 and 2023. These additional submarines are essential to reducing the attack submarine shortfall currently slated to occur in the next ten years. Finally, we concentrate on delivering the logistics that the Army and the Marine Corps need by providing additional authority to procure used vessels and ensuring a sufficient construction program to support the surge sealift.
Our oversight this year also included key development programs associated with the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program and the B-21 Raider program. I visited the locations associated with both of these programs in the last few months and believe that we are on track to deliver these capabilities. As the second and third largest DoD acquisition programs, it is essential that we deliver both of these capabilities on time and on budget. I continue to carefully review design completion and believe that the DoD needs to carefully align design completion with the start of production.
As to other aviation programs, I think that we are also on the cusp of building a sound and holistic strategy to address aircraft shortcomings. With inclusion of multiyear procurement authority for C-130Js and E-2Ds, as well as continued funding for C-130H propulsion upgrades, we are setting a long term plan for success in delivering remaining requirements.
As to the KC-46A, I think that the Air Force is doing a good job in ensuring strict compliance. While I believe that the Air Force should lean forward in accelerating acceptance of available aircraft, I also think that the contractor needs to rapidly correct remaining deficiencies and certifications before final acceptance. In my meetings with the contractor in recent weeks, I have been assured that these efforts are underway and that the KC-46A remains their top priority.
In conclusion, I think this mark has been difficult but provides the right capabilities, with the right balance to support our warfighters. This mark is not the result of a single person, but the result of a team working toward a common goal. I want to especially highlight the support of my teammate, Joe Courtney. I continue to be amazed as to what a bipartisan group can do when we are aligned toward a common goal. In short, Joe Courtney has been spectacular in his depth of understanding and insight into particularly difficult issues. Our mark is better because of his direct interest and support. I also want to thank our Seapower and Projection Forces staff of Dave Sienicki, Phil McNaughton, Bruce Johnson, and Megan Handal for their tireless efforts to help us craft this mark."
