Political Quotes

“I offer my strongest endorsement to the build and charter provision in this package of reforms. This provision is relatively simple and straightforward. It provides the Secretary of the Navy with authority to enter into long-term charters for auxiliary and naval support vessels built in U.S. shipyards. It is modeled after the highly successful build and charter program which allowed the Navy to retain its T-5 tankers and the Marine Corps to obtain its 13 maritime prepositioned vessels. These ships will be built in privately owned U.S. shipyards using private capital. Upon completion of these vessels, the shipowners will sign a long-term lease with the Navy to provide a fully crewed vessel. This provision will simply allow the Navy to request funding for the lease payments for these vessels in the year in which those payments are required to be paid. Under current practice, the Navy is required to request the budget authority in the first year of the lease for all of the payments due over the next 20 years. Without the ability to spread these payments over the term of the lease, the Navy will simply be unable to obtain the support capability it needs over the next 10 years. The Navy will need 10 new fast combat dry cargo support ships just after the year 2000. Requirements for ammunition ships for the Air Force and Army have also been identified, as well as towed-array sensor ships.”