Rep. Courtney Remarks (As Prepared) at Commissioning of USS IOWA (SSN 797)
NEW LONDON, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee, delivered remarks at the commissioning ceremony of the USS IOWA (SSN 797), the 24th boat in the Virginia-class program. Watch the remarks here. Remarks as prepared below.
“It is a great honor for me and Senator Blumenthal to welcome our many guests to southeastern Connecticut and our nation’s oldest submarine base – Naval Submarine Base New London. Here, Base Commander Captain Kenneth Curtin and his able team oversee 15 attack submarines, 8,000 sailors and officers, and hundreds of civilian federal workers who are operating at heel-to-toe-tempo, with the most demanding skills and proficiency to protect our nation. There is no better place to welcome the USS IOWA 24th Virginia-class into the submarine force than this hallowed base which the Navy stood up in 1867.
“The presence today of our nation’s newly confirmed, 79th Secretary of the Navy, Mr. John Phelan, also adds to the gravity of today’s event. As Ranking Member of the bipartisan House Seapower Subcommittee, I want to publicly congratulate you on your critical new post and I can assure you that the Subcommittee will work with you to strengthen our nation’s sea services, whose mission is of the highest importance.
“It is a pleasure to welcome back to Groton the outstanding and energetic IOWA Commissioning Committee, led by Governor Reynolds, and the submarine’s sponsor, Christie Vilsack, whose lifetime of public service at home and abroad with USAID did so much to uplift our nation’s public good, and whose example will inspire the sailors of the IOWA for decades to come. Welcome also to her husband, Tom Vilsack, who visited New England countless times as the Secretary of Agriculture to support our farmers and the food insecure. Thank you both for your outstanding work. Finally, welcome to my colleague in the House, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller Meeks, who I can personally attest is the most ardent fan of Iowa women’s college basketball and Caitlin Clark in the U.S. House of Representatives. Of course that was all a long time ago, and now Paige Bueckers and the 2nd District’s UConn women are back in the final four and soon it will be my turn to drop the mic.
“Congratulations to the entire Electric Boat team, to Mark Rayha, the new CEO of EB, and your partners from Newport News. Congratulations also to IOWA’S Commanding Officer Greg Coy – your predecessors Matthew Powell and Quintin James, who kept IOWA’s crew working and believing – over 6 long years from the keel laying to today’s launch – that this day would finally arrive. I want to also give a shout out to IOWA’s relentless ships manager, Kamal Mohamed, whose talented, cheerful leadership kept all the metal trades, designers, and support teams on task even during the darkest days of the pandemic.
“The IOWA’s success has lots of good company. Last fall, the 23rd Virginia-class submarine, the USS NEW JERSEY, was commissioned. After the 24th today, the 25th, USS MASSACHUSSETTS, will be commissioned this coming fall, and in December, the USS IDAHO is slated for delivery as number 26. Next year, USS ARKANSAS and UTAH are on deck to join the fleet as well, as numbers 27 and 28. This torrent of post-pandemic deliveries is a powerful rebuttal to some armchair naysayers in Washington who disparage the men and women of our nation’s submarine industrial base. They are wrong. Since 2018, Congress has stepped up investment in workforce, facilities, and supply chain all across the country, including Iowa – and it’s working. Today, over $50 million worth of submarine components are coming from Iowa, including Mariannette’s Congressional district
“In February, I traveled with another Iowan, Congressman Zach Nunn, to the Indo Pacific region. We heard from Admiral Samuel Paparo – Commander of all US forces in that vast region – that attack submarines are the most critical instrument the U.S. and our democratic allies have in order to deter aggression and keep the peace. In Australia, its leaders in Parliament and government foot stomped the critical importance of AUKUS, the trilateral security alliance whose centerpiece is to sell and equip the Aussie Navy with nuclear powered, conventionally armed attack submarines. We have no better friends and allies than the people of the UK and Australia, who are taking on this massive investment in order to protect and defend our shared values and interests. Today, we are honored to have the Defense Attache of the Australian Embassy to the U.S. in Groton underscoring AUKUS’ importance. Rear Admiral Ian Murray, please stand. Please join me in recognizing our most steadfast ally.
“Today’s event is a moment to reflect on not just the profound achievement of this technological marvel – but also the global importance of our commitment to supporting our democratic allies. Best wishes to Commanding Officer Coy and IOWA’s crew as you begin your journey to do amazing important things for our great nation. Thank you.”