[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1173 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1173

Encouraging the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy to 
 enter into an international joint-build, cost-sharing program for the 
  next generation nuclear-powered fast attack submarine program, and 
   encouraging the Department of the Navy to maximize the utility of 
                    autonomous underwater vehicles.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 10, 2018

 Mr. Conaway submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

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                               RESOLUTION


 
Encouraging the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy to 
 enter into an international joint-build, cost-sharing program for the 
  next generation nuclear-powered fast attack submarine program, and 
   encouraging the Department of the Navy to maximize the utility of 
                    autonomous underwater vehicles.

Whereas according to the National Defense Strategy, ``. . . an increasingly 
        complex global security environment, characterized by overt challenges 
        to the free and open international order and the re-emergence of long-
        term, strategic competition between nations. These changes require a 
        clear-eyed appraisal of the threats we face, acknowledgement of the 
        changing character of warfare, and a transformation of how the 
        Department conducts business.'';
Whereas according to the National Defense Strategy, one defense objective is ``. 
        . . ensuring common domains remain open and free'';
Whereas the undersea domain is vital to national security and freedom of the 
        seas;
Whereas the ability of the United States to protect its national security in the 
        undersea domain is in increasing jeopardy;
Whereas former Combatant Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command 
        Harry Harris said before Congress in 2018, ``Potential adversary 
        submarine activity has tripled from 2008 levels, requiring an increase 
        of U.S. activity to maintain undersea superiority'';
Whereas the Navy does not have enough nuclear-powered fast attack submarines 
        (commonly known as ``SSNs'') to fulfill national security requirements 
        today;
Whereas United States Los Angeles class SSNs are being retired in a larger 
        number than the current Virginia class replacement due to budget and 
        build limitations;
Whereas former Combatant Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command 
        Harry Harris said before Congress in 2018, ``This growth of regional 
        submarine fleets, and increasing demand from other Combatant Commands 
        for SSNs, will challenge the Joint Force to address our SSN requirements 
        in the decade ahead. The SSN imbalance will only be aggravated as the 
        global U.S. Navy SSN inventory drops and submarines are retired faster 
        than replacements are constructed.'';
Whereas the number of SSNs will continue to decline to a projected minimum of 42 
        in 2028;
Whereas the Navy will not reach the stated inventory SSN requirement of 66 until 
        2048;
Whereas according to the fiscal year 2019 shipbuilding plan, to reach the goal 
        of 66 SSNs, the Navy will begin to purchase the SSN(X) far in the 
        future, in 2034;
Whereas according to the Congressional Budget Office, the projected cost of each 
        SSN(X) according to certain requirements will be $5,500,000,000 per 
        submarine;
Whereas Congress supports the Navy's design goal in the Tactical Submarine 
        Evolution Plan of a ``fast, lethal, next-generation attack submarine'';
Whereas Congress has significant concerns regarding declining SSN inventory 
        numbers and its adverse implication for national security;
Whereas Congress has significant concerns regarding SSN(X)'s future cost 
        projections and the impact on other Navy budget programs;
Whereas to fill a growing national security need, Congress believes new, 
        innovative ideas must be pursued in order to offset SSN costs and build 
        constraints while growing the SSN fleet to adequate numbers;
Whereas the Navy is developing a nascent extended range unmanned vehicle and 
        plans to award a contract for the first five vessels in fiscal year 
        2019;
Whereas a key objective of the National Defense Strategy is ``defending allies 
        from military aggression and bolstering partners against coercion, and 
        fairly sharing responsibilities for common defense''; and
Whereas the National Defense Strategy states ``mutually beneficial alliances and 
        partnerships are crucial to our strategy, providing a durable, 
        asymmetric strategic advantage that no competitor or rival can match'': 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) encourages the Department of Defense and the Department 
        of the Navy to enter into an international joint-build, cost-
        sharing program for the next generation nuclear-powered fast 
        attack submarine program (commonly known as SSN(X)) along the 
        following guidelines:
                    (A) In partnership with the nations of Australia, 
                Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
                    (B) To initiate, develop, agree, and enter into 
                such a program before the termination of fiscal year 
                2021 in order to begin to build at the soonest possible 
                time; and
            (2) encourages the Department of the Navy to maximize the 
        utility of autonomous underwater vehicles as a method to 
        augment capabilities, reduce requirements, and reduce costs 
        associated with SSN(X).
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