Welcome to the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus website! As Co-chairs of the caucus and on behalf of the more than 110 Members who have joined, we thank you for your interest in shipbuilding and its associated industrial base. We hope you will find the website to be a helpful reference that will increase your understanding of the issues facing America's shipbuilders, Navy, and Marine Corps.

We began the Caucus with three main objectives: to build a venue for Members to discuss shipbuilding issues that impact their districts, to work together to support increased shipbuilding efforts for the United States Navy that will enhance our national security, and to improve awareness regarding shipbuilding matters across Capitol Hill. Our Caucus provides a forum for Members of Congress, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers, and industry leaders to exchange views on the current and future states of domestic shipbuilding.

Again, thank you for visiting our website. Please check back in the future for updates. If you have any questions or comments about the Caucus or would like to encourage your Representative to join, please contact us.

 
Marine Corps Underscores Nation’s Need for Ships
Tuesday, 24 March 2009

Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus CO-Chairs Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) hosted a breakfast with speakers Major General Robert E. Schmidle, Jr., Assistant Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Programs and Resources and Lieutenant General George J. Flynn, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration.  The meeting was attended by Representatives Rodney Alexander (R-LA), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Randy Forbes (R-VA), Eric Massa (D-NY), Glenn Nye (D-VA) and Bobby Scott (D-VA).

            Major General Schmidle discussed the Marine Corps’ current and future operations across the globe and stressed how important a sufficient naval amphibious fleet is to fulfilling its missions.  He noted: 75 percent of people live within 200 miles of a coast; 70 percent of the world is water; 95 percent of international voice and data communications travel via underwater cables; 23,000 ships are underway daily, carrying 90 percent of the world’s international commerce; 49 percent of the world’s oil travels through six major chokepoints, and 25 percent of the world’s oil and gas is drilled at sea.  Accordingly, the United States is a maritime nation and she “must have a very robust Navy.” 

            Major General Schmidle expressed concern that the United States’ major bases abroad do not always allow for military forces to easily arrive to the problem areas, which he noted makes a good case for seabasing.  To that end, he explained that amphibious vessels bring a full range of assets for both conventional and irregular warfare. 

Schmidle also underscored the need for the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future) Program, stating that it is a necessary capability “across the spectrum of operations.”  He said that at least one squadron of the future force was required, adding that it is extremely important to support upper echelon missions and requirements.

 The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) for 2009, which will be commenced shortly, will be the first where the Navy and Marine Corps are actively working together on the needs of the sea services.  Flynn stressed that the Navy/Marine Corps team is serious about using common hull forms to meet different mission requirements.  An example given was that the LPD-17 hull could be used for the next generation LSD amphibious ship as well as for the amphibious command and control ship (LCC).  He added that to take advantage of this common hull strategy, there has to be a steady state plan for ship procurement.  Flynn concluded that successful mission accomplishment in the maritime domain in the future is tied to the Marine Corps’ and Navy’s ability to build ships.  

FULL RELEASE
 

Through a combination of meetings, discussions, and delegation visits, the Caucus seeks to:

    1. Raise awareness of shipbuilding issues within Congress & the Public
    2. Provide a forum for Members of Congress to discuss shipbuilding issues which are important to their districts
    3. Define the requirement of the Navy and Coast Guard-what is the number and mix of ships required?
    4. Promote adequate budgets and funding of naval ships to meet warfare requirements.
    5. Promote the U.S. build and manufacture of ships and their components.
    6. Facilitate a dialogue between industry, Congress, and the Sea Services on the future of the domestic shipbuilding industry.