Opening Statement of Ranking Member Roscoe Bartlett

Jul 23, 2007
Press Release

Contact: Josh Holly (HASC), 202-226-3988                                                   Lisa Wright (Bartlett), 202-225-2721

 

Washington D.C. -- Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), senior Republican on the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee, today released the following opening statement for the subcommittee’s hearing on the U.S. Navy’s surface combatant construction programs:

“Mr. Chairman, I want to thank both panels of witnesses for being with us today.  I understand that many of my colleagues have a hard stop at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon, so I will keep my remarks brief in the interests of getting to our witnesses statements.

“I would like to thank the Chairman, as well as the witnesses from the Navy, for today’s format.  So often, we have non-Department of Defense (DoD) witnesses testify in the second panel.  These witnesses often have very perceptive insights, but when they testify last, it does not allow members to follow up with questions for the DoD.  Today, we’ll have a chance to hear from these witnesses and then immediately discuss some of the oversight issues they have raised with the subject matter experts from the Navy.

“Although I expect that much of today’s hearing will focus on the persistent challenges of the LCS and LPD 17 programs, I am glad we will be getting an update on DDG 1000 and CVN-21.  I understand that as these programs come closer to completion of design and the start of construction, they too are facing serious schedule, cost, and weight challenges.  I am especially interested to know how the Navy is applying lessons learned from LCS and LPD 17 to these shipbuilding programs to avoid similar pitfalls as detailed design concludes and construction begins. 

“With respect to LCS, I was dismayed to learn of additional schedule slippage on LCS 1 and the further potential impact of workforce challenges at Marinette Marine.  I would like the Navy to provide us with a detailed update on the construction status of both LCS 1 and LCS 2.  I would also like the Navy to address the status of LCS 4.  What are the cost trends for this platform?  What actions is the Navy taking to ensure equitable treatment between the two contractors?  As well, we have heard a number of disturbing stories in the press recently regarding LPD 17.  I would like to understand what risks remain in the completion of construction and performance of LPD 17, 18, and 19, in particular.  What lessons has the Navy learned about accepting delivery of ships prior to the completion of construction?  Has the Navy ever done this before?  Does the Navy believe it may have to do so again?  What types of contractual remedies could have prevented such a situation?

“Finally, I am concerned about the impact that a potential shortage of steel may have on our shipbuilding programs.  It is my understanding that the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) recently conducted an Industrial Capabilities Assessment for the MRAP program.  According to this assessment the limiting factor for producing large quantities of MRAP vehicles is material constraints and not the production capacity of the prime contractors.  Tires and specialty mil-spec thin gauge armor plate are the two primary material constraints limiting production.  It is imperative that we understand how the consumption of these materials for MRAP will impact other DoD programs, particularly the shipbuilding programs this subcommittee oversees.  There is no reason why we should learn six months from now that another critical platform cannot be delivered or has experienced excessive cost growth because all the steel has gone to MRAP.  It is incumbent upon the Department to do a thorough evaluation of these impacts now and for members to fully understand the hard choices that will have to be made.

“All of our witnesses, DoD and non-DoD, are performing an important job for our warfighters.  Again, thank you for being here and I look forward to your testimony.”

 

### 

https://republicans.armedservices.house.gov