20070516 Congressman Bartlett’s Floor Statement on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces

Congressman Bartlett’s Floor Statement on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Josh Holly (HASC), 202-226-3988

May 16, 2007

Lisa Wright (Bartlett), 202-225-2721

PRESS RELEASE

Floor Statement of Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee Ranking Member Roscoe Bartlett

Debate on H.R. 1585 the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, D.C. – House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Ranking Republican Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) released the following floor statement for the House general debate on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008:

“I rise in strong support of H.R. 1585.

“First, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the outstanding service rendered to the Nation by our men and women in uniform – who, like their forebearers, are meeting today’s security challenges with true dedication and professionalism.

“I would also like to thank the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Taylor, Chairman of the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee, on which I serve as Ranking Member, for his leadership, friendship, and unwavering commitment to our service members. I also want to thank the staff for their hard work, diligence and excellent assistance.

“Mr. Chairman, I think our colleagues will find that this bill reflects a fair and balanced treatment of the issues facing the United States Navy and Marine Corps. In collaboration with the Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member Hunter, we provided full funding of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, which is protecting our troops against IEDs.

“By strengthening the shipbuilding program and authorizing 8 new ships, we addressed the Navy’s number one and number two unfunded priorities. We must reverse the steady decline in the number of battle force ships we have seen for nearly two decades.

“Nevertheless, in order to provide the number of ships our warfighters say they need, we must inject fiscal discipline into our shipbuilding programs. To that end, H.R. 1585 includes a provision that would limit the practice of design and build concurrency – a practice which has delayed and increased costs for a number of shipbuilding programs.

“Continuing efforts from prior years’ defense authorization bills, we have included a provision to push for modernization in shipyards through process, infrastructure improvements, or workforce training.

“An April 2007 study commissioned by the Department of Defense found that the risks associated with the cost and supply of oil will make the US military's ability to rapidly deploy on demand "unsustainable in the long term." H.R. 1585 also forges new ground by requiring that future major combatant vessels have integrated nuclear propulsion

“I will conclude by applauding the remaining provisions in the bill supporting the Navy and Marine Corps and authorizing appropriations and authorities for the Maritime Administration.

“I urge your full support of H.R. 1585.”

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