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Wittman, Kelly Amplify Pressure on CAPE to Support Cost-Effective 31 Amphibious Ship Floor Requirement
Washington,
March 1, 2024
WASHINGTON – Today, senior leaders of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Congressman Trent Kelly (R-MS) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)’s Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office to affirm the importance of meeting the congressionally-mandated 31 L-class amphibious ship floor requirement in a cost-effective way.
By providing multiship procurement authority for amphibious vessels in the Fiscal Year 2025 presidential budget request, the DoD can affordably meet this critical requirement, which will enhance U.S. force structure in the Indo-Pacific and provide certainty for the shipbuilding industrial base. “In the unclassified Battle Force Ship Assessment and Requirement (BFSAR) and Chief of Naval Operations Navigation Plan, both released in 2022, the Navy looks to maintain 31 traditional L-class amphibious ships,” the senior HASC leaders write. “As the cost assessment arm of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, CAPE should recognize the value of the cost savings generated by multiyear procurement of America class and San Antonio class amphibious ships.” To read the full letter, click here. Rep. Wittman serves as chairman of the HASC Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces and Rep. Kelly serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces. |