Legislation provides roadmap for 313-ship Navy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, chairman of the House Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee, today announced the passage of the subcommittee's portion of the National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2009. 

"The current size of the Navy fleet is 278 ships - well below their stated requirement of 313 ships," said Rep. Gene Taylor, chairman of the subcommittee.  "With passage of this legislation, my colleagues and I will provide the Navy with a roadmap to achieve their goal of a 313-ship fleet."

The mark builds upon the Navy's request for eight ships by authorizing funding for up to four additional ships-bringing the Fiscal Year 2009 total to as many as 12 ships.  With ships having an average 30-year service life, the Navy must build at a rate of 10 ships per year to achieve and maintain a 300-ship fleet. 

Highlights of the mark are as follows:

I.                    Ship Procurement - the mark authorizes the construction of 1 Virginia Class Submarine, 2 Littoral Combat Ships, 1 LPD-17 Class Amphibious Ship, 2 Joint High Speed Vessels, and 4 T-AKE Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ships.  The mark also pauses the DDG-1000 program, authorizes $400 million in surface combatant advance procurement, and allows the Navy to use the advanced funds toward construction of 2 DDG 51 Aegis-Class Destroyers or a DDG 1000.

II.                 Aircraft Procurement - the mark authorizes the same number of planes requested by the Navy and Marine Corps in the services' FY09 budget request.  In addition, the mark authorizes $448 million to accomplish emergent repairs to the wing struts of the P3C Orion Anti-Submarine/Reconnaissance aircraft.

III.               Other Procurement- Along with the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, the mark authorizes an additional $2.6 billion to field Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP) for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

IV.              Research, Development, Technology & Evaluation- the mark authorizes $247 million for development of the Alternate Engine program for the Joint Strike Fighter.

V.                 Maritime Provisions - the mark includes authorization of funds for the operation and activities of the U.S. Maritime Administration, $178 million for the Maritime Security Fleet Program, $25 million in assistance to small shipyards, and $30 million for the Title XI Maritime Loan Guarantee Program.

The House Armed Services Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider the FY09 NDAA. 

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