National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

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Mr. WITTMAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chairman, I would first like to thank Chairman McKeon for his hard work and leadership on bringing the NDAA to the floor. Thank you so much, we appreciate that. I also want to recognize Ranking Member Smith for his efforts. This is a long and arduous process, and I know that the hours to come on the floor will be very fruitful, I'm sure, for everybody to have the opportunity to speak on this bill.

I rise today to offer an amendment to address how we build Ford-class aircraft carriers, our Nation's next class of nuclear-powered carriers that will sail throughout the 21st century. This amendment simply grants the Secretary of the Navy the authority for advance purchase of major components for the next two aircraft carriers. This would allow the Navy to achieve cost savings and would ensure critical skills in the aircraft carrier industrial base are maintained.

Furthermore, this amendment ensures that carriers are constructed on a 5-year cycle with continuous and incremental funding for carrier procurement. Given these tight budgetary constraints, we need to be looking for ways to spend taxpayer dollars to support our national defense in the most efficient way possible. Madam Chairman, this amendment allows us to do just that. It allows us to properly space construction, and it allows us to get out in front to purchase materials when we can purchase them in the most cost-effective manner possible.

So I would urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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