Press Releases
Seapower Leaders Urge Swift Action on Australia's $500M Submarine Investment
Washington,
February 11, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Trent Kelly (R-MS) and Ranking Member Joe Courtney (D-CT) of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth urging swift action on Australia’s newly announced $500 million investment in the U.S. submarine industrial base under the AUKUS agreement.
The investment was made possible by a provision in the 2024 National Defense and Authorization Act (NDAA), which Kelly and Courtney championed, allowing the U.S. to accept Australia’s contribution. Under this law, the Secretary of Defense must submit a notification to Congress outlining how the funds will be allocated. “We look forward to receiving the required notifications detailed in the FY24 NDAA so that funding may be expeditiously made available for obligation to the U.S. submarine industrial base. This funding should not be used to offset any current or future cost growth that may exist elsewhere in U.S. submarine procurement. Instead, we hope that these funds will be used to supplement ongoing efforts to increase submarine production, adhere to the enabling legislation, and reaffirm the United States' commitment to the Australian government,” the lawmakers wrote to Secretary Hegseth. Friday’s investment was the first of several under Australia’s $3 billion commitment to strengthen the U.S. submarine industrial base and support efforts to expand submarine construction. The announcement came ahead of Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles’ first meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Both Chairman Kelly and Ranking Member Courtney met with Mr. Marles Friday to discuss Congress’ commitment to the US-Australia alliance and Australia’s landmark investment. |