House Committee Seeks Answers for Naval Collisions

Statement

Dear Friend-

As you know, in the early hours of August 21, 2017, the USS John S. McCain collided with a merchant vessel on its way to Singapore. Just one month earlier, another Japan-based destroyer, the USS Fitzgerald, collided with a similar vessel off the coast of Japan.

I was on official travel in the Pacific at the time of the USS John S. McCain collision, so I altered my itinerary and traveled to Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan. I met with the new 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Sawyer and saw the damage of the USS Fitzgerald.

I wrote an op-ed that was published in the Virginian-Pilot this morning explaining what I saw in Japan and what challenges naval surface forces have been facing in the Pacific as it relates to those ships' operational tempo, training, readiness, and maintenance funding.

The full article is pasted below.

Today at 2pm I will be co-chairing a hearing on the matter of Navy readiness with an emphasis on the underlying incidents involving the USS Fitzgerald and USS McCain.

Please do not hesitate to contact me anytime an issue that concerns you comes before the House, especially if it concerns defense and national security.

It's an honor to serve you and Virginia's First District in the People's House.

Sincerely,
Rob

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