James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the bipartisan fiscal year 2023 NDAA.

Madam Speaker, as you know, Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution mandates that Congress ``shall provide and maintain a Navy.'' The Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee's work does exactly that.

Our mark increased the number of battle force ships from 8 requested to 11 and invests in the workforce and supply chain necessary for their construction. The bill also authorizes the Maritime Administration, for the first time, to buy 10 new-build sealift vessels to recapitalize our National Defense Reserve Fleet built in American shipyards by American workers.

Also included is the first congressional action in support of the AUKUS security agreement between the U.S., Australia, and U.K. which establishes joint nuclear training for U.S. and Australian naval officers, which is critical for an Australian nuclear-powered submarine fleet of their own.

I thank my colleagues on the subcommittee, particularly Ranking Member Rob Wittman, our outstanding staff: Jay Vallario, Kelly Goggin, Dave Sienicki, and Naajidah Khan, and our defense fellow, Lieutenant Logan O'Shea, all who contributed so much to this measure.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and join Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Rogers in fulfilling our constitutional duty to our Nation.

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