Political Quotes

“In conclusion, I want to point to the 2016 report that assessed that additional refuelings would increase Navy fleet operating costs by several billion dollars a year. Mr. Chair, as we are looking to rebuild the Navy, that means ships that will not get built. That will mean less operating capability. That will mean ships that need to be at dock for longer periods of time for maintenance and for refueling. A larger submarine reactor core, which is what DOD says would be needed for LEU, requires a larger submarine, and it makes those submarines less capable and less efficient. It also requires massive redesigns, so it interrupts existing submarine construction programs. All of those things have significant impacts on the capability of the Navy. Take the Virginia-class submarine reactor, which operates on a 33- year ship expectancy. That would cut that by one-third, which means it would have to come back and be refueled again. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin). The amendment was agreed to. Amendments En Bloc No. 5 Offered by Mr. Smith of Washington”