Courtney Spearheads Bipartisan Effort to Grow Submarine Shipyards to Take on Increased Demand at Home, and from America’s AUKUS Allies

WASHINGTON, DC—On Tuesday night, the House voted to pass the final Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (S. 1605) in overwhelming bipartisan fashion, 363-70. In his dual role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, and Co-Chair and co-founder of the bipartisan Friends of Australia Caucus, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) authored some of the bill's most important provisions for eastern Connecticut—and for America's allies in the Indo-Pacific.

As Congress prepared to vote, Rep. Courtney outlined why the Seapower Subcommittee's portion of the 2022 NDAA is crucial to deter "the pacing threat of China". He also explained how the solutions it provides—from increased submarine production here at home, to preparing America's submarine shipyards and supply chain to take on increased demand through partnerships like AUKUS—could result in a new wave of economic opportunity for eastern Connecticut shipbuilders and suppliers. Watch here.

The House Seapower Subcommittee ensured the 2022 NDAA provided the room and resources necessary to meet demands as America and its allies' security priorities shift towards the Indo-Pacific. Nuclear-powered submarines have repeatedly been identified by the U.S. Navy as its most important tool in the Indo-Pacific, and the final 2022 NDAA contains language authored by the Seapower Subcommittee providing $13.4 billion for submarine procurement, R&D, and repair—the most since the 1980's.

The House Seapower Subcommittee's portion of the NDAA supports the sustained two-per-year build rate of Virginia-class submarines in 2022 and beyond with more than $6 billion, and provides more than $3 billion for the second year of construction on the first Columbia-class submarine—being built largely in Groton. The Seapower Subcommittee also secured $900 million for research and development of future submarine capabilities, ensuring our Navy remains at the forefront of undersea technology.

Perhaps most exciting for regions like eastern Connecticut, the bill also provides $200 million to upgrade and grow America's submarine shipyards, like Electric Boat and others—a signature effort Rep. Courtney authored for the 2022 NDAA. As demand for nuclear-powered submarines continues to climb—both domestically from the U.S. Navy, and from America's allies through partnerships like AUKUS—Courtney's provision will enable U.S. shipyards to meet the demands of our Navy and increase Virginia-class submarine production to three-per-year by 2025, and to take on potential work orders from Australia or other allies, opening entirely new markets of opportunity. Click here to read more.

Read below for a summary of Rep. Courtney's remarks ahead of this week's vote, and click here to watch his full address.


Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I rise in strong support of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, which is before us this evening. As chair of the Sea Power and Projection Forces Subcommittee, this bill is proof that our panel upheld its duty under Article One, Section Eight, to quote "provide and maintain a Navy.

Our bill authorizes thirteen new ships, continuing our tradition to independently scrub the budget and augment our Navy fleet responsibly. Within that total, we authorized three destroyers and two additional fast transport ships to support the rapid deployment of equipment and personnel.

[…]

A particular note, Madam Speaker, is the [Seapower Subcommittee's] mark on undersea capabilities, which at the end of the day is the most effective path to deter the pacing threat of China. For proof of this, look no further than August, [to] the recent security agreement between the US, UK and Australia, whose centerpiece is building a new fleet of Aussie nuclear-powered submarines.

This NDAA funds two-per-year Virginia-class subs and full production of the Columbia program. It also includes House provisions of $200 million for new facility [upgrades], $130 million for supplier development, and $20 million for workforce development. Altogether, this will increase production capacity to help both our allies and our Navy to maintain dominance in the undersea domain. I want to thank ranking member Rob Whitman and all the members on the subcommittee for their great bipartisan work building the NDAA this year, as well as Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Rogers.

I also want to thank Phil MacNaughton, Dave Sienicki, and Kelly Goggin for their great staff work, and Lieutenant Commander Matt Harmon, my Navy fellow, who is sadly leaving us soon—his really solid contribution as a SWO [Surface Warfare Officer] was instrumental in terms of the work that our subcommittee was able to produce.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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