Rep. Courtney Wins Critical Committee Support for Advanced Procurement of Second Virginia-Class Submarine

Press Release

REP. COURTNEY WINS CRITICAL COMMITTEE SUPPORT FOR ADVANCED PROCUREMENT OF SECOND VIRGINIA-CLASS SUBMARINE

Representative Joe Courtney announced today that the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations spending bill provides the necessary funding to ramp up production of the Virginia-class nuclear submarine program. This is not only a critical increase for southeastern Connecticut's economy and a major step towards improving our nation's long-term national security.

"I am pleased that the House Appropriations Committee is supporting my effort to increase submarine production and agrees that the Virginia-class nuclear submarine is a crucial piece of our national security strategy," stated Congressman Joe Courtney. "This is a major milestone that has not been achieved before and I thank Chairmen Jack Murtha, Ike Skelton, and Gene Taylor who support a robust shipbuilding plan for the future."

"The Committee's strong support today is a testament to the skill and dedication of southeastern Connecticut's workforce. They have made enormous strides streamlining the submarine construction process and delivering subs on time and on budget. The employees of Electric Boat have given our nation a shipbuilding program that we can all be proud of," Congressman Courtney added.

Since his election to Congress, Representative Joe Courtney has made the case to House leadership and United States Navy officials that the United States Navy's submarine fleet must be expanded to meet the needs of a changing world with new global threats and developing nations.

Congressman Joe Courtney met with Seapower Subcommittee Chairman Gene Taylor in February to request a hearing on submarine production, which was held on March 8. At the hearing, Admiral Donnelly stated that while the Navy has an existing thirty-year shipbuilding plan, the Navy would support funding for an additional Virginia-class submarine if the funding were provided.

Electric Boat President John Casey was on hand at the March 8 hearing to show his support for Congressman Joe Courtney, but most importantly, to make clear that the shipbuilding industrial base and Electric Boat employees were ready and able to take on the increase work if approved by Congress.

In April, at the invitation of Congressman Joe Courtney, Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Murtha visited Electric Boat so that he could see first hand that the shipbuilding industrial base was prepared to build additional submarines.

Most recently, in July, Congressman Courtney and Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin led an effort by the House Shipbuilding Caucus to once again express the importance of the Virginia-class program and maintaining a strong shipbuilding industrial base.

"While this major milestone has been met, there is still much work to be done in Washington, DC to ensure that this funding is approved by the full House of Representatives and the Senate," added Congressman Courtney. "The local communities and the State of Connecticut has been extremely supportive of the effort to increase submarine production and that support will continue to be vital."

Source