OPENING REMARKS OF CHAIRMAN WITTMAN

WASHINGTON, DC - 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 joint hearing titled “Submarine Industrial Base: Options for Construction.” For testimony and to watch the hearing click here.  

"Today, we meet to discuss undersea warfare and options to ease the impending overall reductions in the submarine force structure.  This is not a good news story and I look forward to discussing ways to strengthen our undersea capability and capacity.  Appearing before us to discuss this important topic are three esteemed Navy witnesses:

Honorable James Geurts
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development & Acquisition; 

Rear Admiral Michael E. Jabaley
Program Executive Officer for Submarines; and 

Rear Admiral John W. Tammen Jr
Director, Undersea Warfare Division (OPNAV 97).

I want to thank you all for your service as well as for appearing before this subcommittee to discuss our undersea force structure.  

As I have previously discussed, the world watches our budget deliberations and decisions we make.  Today, we are at a crossroads in regard to our undersea forces.  We are currently on a path that reduces our attack submarine force structure from 52 boats today to 42 boats in 2028.  Admiral Harris, our PACOM commander, constantly reminds us that his most critical shortfall is attack submarines.  As we all know, the silent service is indispensable as a method to deter aggression and offers the combatant commander options during escalatory conflict.  Our crossroads offer us two options.  One continues to support the decline in our attack submarine force structure by 20 percent in the next ten years.  The other begins to rebuild the capacity and reverse this downward trend.  

Our adversaries are always measuring options and looking at our funding decisions to determine how they impact their own strategic goals.  If America is weak, adversaries are emboldened to challenge the international system that we have principally shaped since the last great war.  If we continue to allow the reduction in our attack submarines, potential adversaries may see this decline as a strategic inflection point and opportunity to attempt to change the international balance.  

I support the alternative path.  Consistent with the Navy’s 30 year shipbuilding plan, we need to increase our attack submarine build rate and include additional submarines in fiscal years 2022 and 2023.  Additionally, we need to rapidly extend the service life of available Los Angeles attack submarines.  If we choose this alternative path, we will demonstrate the resolve of our nation and affirm our support to maintaining credible maritime deterrence to potential aggressors.

I also want to briefly discuss the Columbia class.  The Columbia class is projected to carry almost 70 percent of our nation’s strategic deterrence.  This is a program that we cannot get wrong.  The first boat is expected to deliver in 2031 and we are well on the development path that will allow us to authorize the first boat in 2021.  The program includes a myriad of technical innovations and, when delivered, will offer an unrivaled strategic capability.  While I am satisfied that PEO Subs is on the right path to deliver Columbia class, we must continue to commit our nation’s best resources to this challenge.  We must devote the right science and technologies to this effort.  And we must develop a capable workforce to ensure the timely delivery of the Columbia-class and appropriately manage the expanding undersea industrial base.  Our nation is ready for this challenge. 

I am reminded of one of our nation’s greatest admirals, Chester Nimitz who reflected on the value of our submarines at the beginning of World War II.  Admiral Nimitz indicated 'we shall never forget that it was our submarines that held the lines against our enemies while our fleets replaced losses and repaired wounds.'  I choose not to forget the lessons from our greatest generation.  I choose the alternative path that puts us on a track for a strong submarine force.  I choose a strong America that emboldens allies and deters future aggression.  

Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you choose the same."