Jim Langevin: “I rise in support of H.R. 1815, and thank Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton for their hard work. This bill…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1815, and thank Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton for their hard work. This bill supports our men and women serving in the armed forces and make- investments to keep our military strong in the future. H.R. 1815 is committed to a strong Navy through shipbuilding increases. With cost controls and investments in our industrial base, we can ensure that our future navy will be robust, innovative and effective. I am pleased that the bill directs the Navy to begin design work on a next-generation submarine that will incorporate emerging technologies. Currently our Navy has no plans for the submarine to follow the Virginia-class, which threatens to cause our design and engineering base to disappear. If we lose design capability, we will do irreparable harm to our shipbuilding industry. Given certain nations' investments in their navy and undersea capabilities, I appreciate the commitment in this bill to guaranteeing our nation's undersea dominance. However, I am concerned by the recommended cuts to DD(X), the Navy's future destroyer that will serve as the model for our naval surface combatant transformation. DD(X) is the cornerstone of our future fleet, and I fear that the cuts in this bill could endanger the project. I look forward to working with my colleagues to address any existing concerns with DD(X) and to continue this program.…”