[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2417-E2418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN SUPPORT OF A STRONG AND CAPABLE SUBMARINE FLEET

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2007

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, yesterday President Bush signed into law 
H.R. 3222, the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008. The 
bill contained many important provisions to support our men and women 
in uniform, their families and our returning veterans. The measure 
includes a 3.5 percent pay raise for our troops, blocks the President's 
proposed fee increase for Tricare beneficiaries and provides 
significant funding for family advocacy programs to help military 
spouses and children manage the difficulties associated with 
deployments. We all recognize that our military's strength comes from 
the people who serve, and this legislation demonstrates our commitment 
to their health and well-being.
  I am also extremely pleased that the Defense Appropriations Act 
includes an additional $588 million in advance procurement funding for 
materials that will permit the expedited construction of a second 
Virginia-class submarine. As co-chair of the Congressional Submarine 
Caucus, I know the importance of submarines to our national security. 
Quiet yet powerful, submarines can conduct a variety of surveillance 
and reconnaissance missions, protect our fleet, project U.S. force onto 
distant shores and support global strike operations. The ability of 
submarines to operate independently in unconventional locations makes 
them one of the most capable components of our fleet. In fact, 
submarines are in such high demand that the Navy can fulfill only about 
60 percent of Regional Combatant Commanders' requests to use them for 
missions.
  The Navy has estimated that we need 48 attack submarines to meet the 
needs of our military commanders. However, under the Navy's current 30-
year shipbuilding plan, they do not expect to increase production to 
two subs per year until 2012, causing a perilous decline in our future 
sub fleet--dropping below 48 ships in FY2020-33 and hitting a low of 40 
in FY2028 and FY2029. Since I came to Congress nearly 7 years ago, I 
have consistently advocated an increase in our build rate of Virginia-
class submarines to two per year so that we have sufficient 
capabilities to address emerging threats. Unfortunately, the Navy has 
repeatedly pushed back its two-per-year target date, causing 
instability in the industrial base. In FY2004, the Navy expected to 
build two subs per year in FY2007. By FY2005, the target had moved to 
FY2009. That date was delayed again and again, and now stands at 
FY2012. Meanwhile, our defense industrial base in Southeastern New 
England has suffered layoffs of submarine designers and engineers, 
whose specialized skills would be very difficult to reconstitute if 
lost. Without prompt action, we risk shrinking our sub fleet to 
dangerously low levels, precisely when nations such as China are 
expanding and modernizing their navies.
  The FY2008 Defense Appropriations Act demonstrates Congress's 
commitment to addressing this dangerous problem and will enhance our 
national security. On behalf of the submarine industrial base in Rhode 
Island, I want to thank Chairman Murtha and Ranking

[[Page E2418]]

Member Young for their leadership on this important issue. I would also 
like to thank my friend and colleague from Connecticut, Mr. Courtney, 
for his tireless advocacy and efforts to achieve this goal, as well as 
the co-chair of the Submarine Caucus, the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. 
Forbes, for being such a dedicated partner in this initiative.
  I am hopeful that this additional funding will prompt the Navy to 
adjust its shipbuilding plan to begin construction of a second 
submarine in next year's budget. I remain committed to that goal, and I 
look forward to working with the Navy and my colleagues in Congress to 
build a more robust and capable submarine fleet.

                          ____________________