Richard Shelby: “I believe we must continue to look for ways to shore up the export deficit.”

I remain concerned that the Air Force budget request is insufficient considering the needed modernization across the inventory with a rapidly evolving threat.

As Senator Shelby at our Senate testimony hearing last March pointed out to us, we must maintain what we have before we can build new, and I think he hits the mark head-on.

The Department of Navy has played and will continue to play a critical role in the defense of our Nation.

Regrettably, this was all predictable and avoidable.