Senator Collins Questions Top Defense Officials On Navy’s 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins questioned top Navy officials during this morning’s hearing of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Budget Request for the 2016 fiscal year. The Senator focused on the viability of the Navy’s 30 year-shipbuilding plan and the status of the DoD’s current efforts to preserve a robust shipbuilding industrial base. Today’s panel included Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

During today’s hearing, General Dempsey stated that the United States currently faces one of “the most uncertain security environments I have seen in my 40 years of service.”

In response to General Dempsey’s alarming comment, Senator Collins emphasized the Navy’s unique role in projecting military power, “particularly in areas where we would otherwise be denied access in trouble spots around the world.” Senator Collins underscored the importance of Navy ships maintaining an international presence, citing that “just last week, a destroyer, which was built at Bath Iron Works which I had the honor to christen, was deployed in response to the Iranian naval forces firing upon and boarding a commercial shipping vessel.”

Last month, the Navy presented its 30-year shipbuilding plan to Congress for fiscal year 2016. This annual long-range plan for construction of naval vessels calls for 308 ships over the 30-year period, however funding for Navy shipbuilding falls short of the plan’s requirements. Based on this information, Senator Collins asked Secretary Carter how the Department of Defense intended to “preserve a robust shipbuilding industrial base” that can meet our operational requirements across the globe.

In response, Secretary Carter stated that “one of the great strengths of our country is our ability to project power around the world. The Navy is an important ingredient of that.” The Secretary stated that U.S. ships have been able to “dominate the naval commons” because of the quality and size of our fleet. He recognized that ships, “particularly ships of quality that are made at Bath…are not one year projects” and require sustained long-term planning and funding. He emphasized the Department of Defense’s commitment to maintaining a “robust industrial base” for our Navy to preserve this critical capability.

Photo of Senator Collins from the hearing

Photo of Senator Collins questioning Secretary of Defense Ash Carter

Photo of Secretary Ash Carter and General Martin Dempsey

Download Senator Collins' full Q & A here