Defense & National Security
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May 24, 2018
“While this bill contains many important provisions for Connecticut, the addition of $1 billion above the budget request to set us on the path to building three submarines per year in 2022 and 2023 stands out as major development for our region and our nation,” said Courtney.
Issues:Defense & National Security
May 10, 2018
“It is long past time for the federal government to live up to the commitments to relieve our communities of the burdens associated with storing nuclear waste locally. This bipartisan compromise broke through the gridlock in Washington and may finally provide a way out for these communities,” Courtney said.
May 10, 2018
“Each year, I have the privilege of working with representatives from across the country and across the aisle to put together this important legislation that invests in our national defense,” said Courtney. “This bill continues my work to respond to the testimony of our military commanders that the U.S. must continue to grow our submarine force."
Issues:Defense & National Security
May 9, 2018
"I am pleased to join you to offer the subcommittee mark for the Seapower and Projection Forces portion of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. Once again, the proposal before us reflects thoughtful bipartisan work and cooperation that our subcommittee has year in, and year out, produced and has truly made a difference in seapower policy."
May 8, 2018
“Despite repeated confirmation that Iran is following the nuclear deal from UN weapons inspectors on the ground, to the President’s own Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, and our closest allies, President Trump has recklessly decided to pull the U.S. out of the agreement,” said Courtney. “This isolates our nation at the very moment we should be rallying international support to denuclearize North Korea. I will support every option possible in Congress to reconstruct and strengthen the progress we have already made toward keeping nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands. Unfortunately, the President has seriously undermined that effort today.”
Issues:Defense & National Security
April 26, 2018
Over the years, our subcommittee has earned a stellar record of constructively influencing the debate about our nation’s priorities on, above and below the seas. For example, the 2018 appropriations process that concluded on March 23rd with passage of the final omnibus in many ways reflected the bipartisan input and priorities for ships, aircraft, and capabilities that were set here in our subcommittee last year.
April 14, 2018
“Bashar al-Assad's criminal chemical weapons attacks against the Syrian people requires both an effective response and a comprehensive strategy," said Courtney. "Clearly, our naval forces executed a precise, laser-focused strike with great competence and skill, and which Secretary of Defense Mattis described as limited. From this point on, the Trump administration needs to consult with Congress on what the overall strategy in Syria will be, a question that is far from clear and one I raised with the Secretary this past Wednesday during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee.”
Issues:Defense & National Security
April 12, 2018
In 2016, the Department of the Navy produced a new Force Structure Assessment which determined that the Navy our nation needs is a 355-ship navy. This is not a number that the Navy came to simply because it believed it needed a larger force. It reviewed and validated the stated requirements – and the real-world demands – faced by our combatant commanders. It looks to present challenges and those expected in the decades ahead.
April 11, 2018
“Today is a special day in southeastern Connecticut as we mark the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Navy installation that would become Naval Submarine Base New London,” said Courtney. “On this date in 1868, the state of Connecticut and the city of New London conveyed a deed of gift to the U.S. Navy that was only 5,200 feet long and 700 feet wide. Over time, that small tract of land along the Thames River has grown in size and stature as it became the home to the ‘first and finest’ submarine base."
March 22, 2018
“For months, we have been hearing from military leaders about the critical need for budget certainty to move forward on a wide range of programs and priorities. Now, with this bill, Congress has finally provided them with that certainty,” said Courtney. “As ranking member of the Seapower subcommittee, I am pleased that this measure reflects many of the priorities I have worked on including robust investment in our undersea forces. I am proud to have fought for key investments in programs important to Connecticut that will contribute to our state’s growing manufacturing resurgence.