WEBVTT

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The subcommittee will come to order . I

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ask unanimous consent that the chair be

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authorized to declare a recess at any

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time . Without objection , so ordered .

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Good afternoon and thank you all for

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being here for today's hearing . As we

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discussed the Navy's needs and the sea

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power and Projection Forces

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subcommittee's jurisdiction for the

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upcoming fiscal year . I'm pleased that

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we have both the 30 year shipbuilding

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plan and the future wars defense

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program to help inform our discussion

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here today . The global threat

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environment has only grown more complex

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and nuanced over the last year . Now

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more than ever , we have had to turn

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the tide of divestment . Retiring more

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holes than we procure is simply not an

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option anymore . We're not going to

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sacrifice capability in a critical

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window for deterrence . For starters ,

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we need to keep our rate of procuring

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two Virginia class submarines per year

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and ensuring our production rate

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improves . We also need to speed up

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both production and procurement of

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AMIBs . Our current procurement

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timelines are hamstringing our Marine

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Corps and making continuous 3.0 RMU

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presence more and more difficult .

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These and countless other programs have

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long been hampered by hot and cold

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demand signals from Congress , but as

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we work together to revitalize our

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maritime industrial base and begin

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putting money towards the arsenal of

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the future , there's no way that this

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is not a way to be doing business . We

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could discuss shipbuilding for the

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entire hearing , as we often do .

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Around here , but I cannot neglect the

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aviation and munitions programs that

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are needed to for great power

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competition . I look forward to

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discussing the plans for critical

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platforms like the PA and the KC-130J's ,

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as well as critical munitions like the

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SM-6 and heavyweight torpedoes that

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underpin our deterrent posture . These

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and so many other programs are

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essential to projecting peace through

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strength around the globe . I'm

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encouraged by the strong budget

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authority for shipbuilding , aviation

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platforms , and critical munitions

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requested in the president's historical

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budget . But I also recognize that

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these are the first steps in what will

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be a long efforts towards a thriving

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national defense and a rejuvenated

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defense industrial base . Only then can

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we truly deliver on the promises of

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peace through strength . I rec I now

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recognize my good friend Ranking Member

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Joe Courtney for any opening remarks he

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might have . Thank you , um . Mr .

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Chairman , thank you , um , to our

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great panel , uh , today , um , as a

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member of this committee for the last

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20 years , I want to preface my remarks

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with the observation that there's a lot

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to like , uh , in the budget that was

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sent over , uh , by the department and

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the administration which I will lay out .

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I have to say at the beginning though

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that the insistence of the Office of

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Management and Budget to once again

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splinter the budget in via a

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reconciliation bill in my opinion ,

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undercuts . The goal of procurement

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stability , uh , which again is really

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necessary to achieve the goal of

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supercharging the industrial base which

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again Chairman Rogers and Ranking

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Member Smith have indicated is really

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sort of the number one priority , um ,

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in this , this year . Starting with the

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positive , the request for $34 billion

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across Columbia , Virginia , and next

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generation submarine programs will

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enable our shipyards to continue their

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positive momentum and to , to , to grow

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navies undersea fleet which today still

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dominates . Uh , across the the globe

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and further enables us to fulfill our

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ACAS commitments . US submarine tonnage

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output has now in , in 2026 reached

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Cold War levels , and Colombia's first

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of class submarine , the District of

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Columbia , actually moved up its

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delivery date . To 2028 from 2029 ,

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wage improvement funding which Congress

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first appropriated in FYA 25 is also

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integral to our ability to increase

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submarine production in Southern New

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England . Attrition is now below 8% in

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the shipyards , which is the lowest ,

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uh , that they've seen since the

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pandemic . I'm pleased that the Navy

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has continued its commitment to these

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wages in this year's discretionary

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budget request . I'm also pleased to

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see significant requests for auxiliary

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and support vessels including submarine

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tenders , oilers , and strategic sea

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lift . It is not possible to revitalize

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the US maritime industrial base with

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combatant vessels alone , and I'm glad

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to see that the subcommittee's long

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held belief , uh , in terms of

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supporting this end of the fleet is

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finally getting , uh , traction . The

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robust request for 12 P-8s is a needed

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boost . P8s are critical assets to our

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navy and also , uh , to those , to our

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allies and partners , uh , who helped

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defend our homeland from adversaries

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subsea capabilities . The recent news

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that news . Of the PMMQ 25A completed

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milestone C and we'll move the program

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to production and deployment also is um

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welcome news and is gonna really help

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uh the Navy with a more diverse aerial

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refueling options and greatly improved

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naval aviation readiness . As I said at

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the outset , the entire Department of

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the Navy's , uh , shipbuilding , 38.8

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billion is locked behind the

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administration's insistence on using a

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reconciliation process for again , the

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total budget in the , in the department ,

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uh , which is 1.5 trillion , uh , 350

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billion of that is going to be

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reconciliation . This bifurcated

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funding in FY 26 created a lot of

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confusion last year in the industrial

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base because the Office of Management

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and Budget , which has unfettered

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control over that money rather than

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appropriated congressional line items ,

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it has also come to my attention

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yesterday that there was concern about

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a potential ambiguity in the FY 26

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appropriation language and how it

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relates to FYA 24's multi-year

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authorization , uh , for , uh , the

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Block 6 contract . This last minute

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development is yet another example of

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the need to follow regular

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appropriations order and authorizations

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order and stop relying on CRs and

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reconciliation packages which again

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because of the confusion can allow

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boilerplate language to suddenly create

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some new challenges and and concerns

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and I will be asking uh the witness ,

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uh , Mr . Potter , uh , again a

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question about that in a few minutes .

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Um , you know , under the purview of

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this , uh , subcommittee , 5.6 billion

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of total shipbuilding funds are locked

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behind reconciliation , and chief among

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my concern is that again , the six

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medium landing ships , which is again ,

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um , um , you know , much needed , uh ,

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asset for the Marine Corps , uh , is a

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part of that 5.6 billion reconciliation .

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It's critical that we need to grow our

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amphibious fleet and hopefully , uh ,

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that's not gonna be jeopardized in

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terms of , um , uh , putting that

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funding . In in reconciliation , I also

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disagree with the decision to procure

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only one Arley Burke destroyer , which

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is a staple of our fleet . Um , and the

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battleship , uh , again , which I

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talked about last week has gone from a

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poster board to $1 billion in this

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year's budget request , $610 million of

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which is going towards long lead items

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and outfitting despite not even having

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a design anywhere close to finished .

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And again , seeing , uh , a , a request

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in that fit up for year two of $17.6

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billion for this program . Again ,

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that's just an amount of money , um ,

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that really defies , um , I think ,

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logic in terms of the fact that we just

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do not have anything close to design .

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And now with the new nuclear powered uh

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proposal , uh , out there , um , again ,

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is really a prerequisite to having any

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program , let alone this one , really ,

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uh , move forward with the kind of

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money that's been , uh , requested . So ,

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sufficient to say there's a road ahead

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of us in terms of determining what the

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next large surface combatant will be

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and what will be the plan to ensure

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that we address looming shortfalls in ,

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in vertical missile tubes , which again

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we discussed yesterday , uh , at a

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meeting in my office . Lastly , I would ,

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uh , like the committee to continue

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working with the Navy on , on

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resourcing unmanned capabilities .

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While these program lines have received

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significant funding . Last year there

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was minimal funding in this year's

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request . The sector is rapidly

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evolving , and last year's NDAA and the

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Pentagon have done good work to

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facilitate improved acquisition . So

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again , a long term and sustainable

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strategy in this area is required from

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the Navy and that certainly will be one

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of the focuses uh for our subcommittee

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for FY twenty-seven's NDAA with that I

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yield back . Uh , thank you , Mr .

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Courtney . We now have today , we have

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Mr . Jason Potter performing the duties

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of Assistant Secretary of the Navy for

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Research , Development , and

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acquisition . We have Rear Admiral Mark

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Benning , acting Deputy Chief of Naval

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Operations for warfighting requirements

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and capabilities , and Lieutenant

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General Eric E . Austin , Deputy

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Commandant of the Marine Corps for the

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combat Development integration . Uh ,

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with that , Mr . Potter , I'm gonna

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recognize you and Admiral and General .

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Y'all can go in whatever order you like .

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Thank you , Chairman . Chairman Kelly ,

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Ranking Member Courtney , distinguished

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members of the subcommittee , good

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afternoon and thank you for the

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opportunity to testify on the

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Department of the Navy's fiscal year

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2027 budget request . I'm honored to be

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joined by General Austin and Admiral

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Benning . We appreciate the

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subcommittee's steadfast support for

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our sailors , marines , civilian

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workforce , and their families ,

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including the resources and authorities

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you provide to defend our nation . This

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past year , our Navy and Marine Corps

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celebrated 250 years of teamwork ,

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which continues to underpin American

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sea power . Our founding fathers

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quickly recognized that protecting our

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commerce and defending the homeland

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required a strong Navy and Marine Corps .

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At the turn of the 20th century ,

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President Roosevelt's vision to expand

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American influence centered on

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deploying the 16 battleships of the

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Great White Fleet around the world to

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project peace through strength . In the

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21st century , Russia , China , and

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other nations continue to expand

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militarily , and as Acting Secretary

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Coo has stated , we are at another

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strategic inflection point where strong

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action is needed to shore up American

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maritime dominance . The president's

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maritime golden age strategy is driving

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that action with a generational

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investment that began last year with

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one big beautiful bill and continues

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with the fiscal year 2027 request . Our

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historic Department of the Navy budget

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request of $377.5 billion

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includes 34 new ships varying from

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small craft to new large combatants to

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recapitalizing a host of auxiliaries .

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Over the next five years , we plan to

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procure 122 manned and 63 medium

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unmanned vessels , reaching 450 total

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naval vessels in 2031 . The

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administration's Golden Fleet

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initiative , the strategic approach to

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deliver more combat capability to the

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fleet , consists of three pillars .

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First , maintain and enhance maritime

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dominance . We're expanding the ways

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the Naval Service will ensure victory

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over any adversary with a high , low

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mix of capabilities through investment

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in current and new classes of combat

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ships , recapitalization of auxiliaries ,

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and new capabilities such as unmanned

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vessels that multiply effects . Second ,

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revitalize the industrial base . We're

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revitalizing the defense industrial

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base across America with tens of

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billions of dollars in stable ,

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predictable , long-term investments to

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get more systems fielded , bolstering

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high skill , high wage American jobs .

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By prioritizing the auxiliary ships

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that get us to and sustain us in a

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fight far from home , we'll both meet

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the needs of the fleet and assist in

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regenerating capacity for commercial

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shipbuilding . Third , change how we do

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business . We're moving from an

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acquisition system that's

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compliance-based to an outcome-focused

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warfighting enterprise , restoring

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accountability , rewarding performance ,

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and embracing advanced technology to

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deliver capability at speed by

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enforcing discipline , leveraging

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distributed production , and enabling

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stable , repeatable work . We are

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deploying innovative contract

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structures to better balance risk and

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opportunity , canceling or

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restructuring programs that we're not

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delivering , too expensive or too late ,

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initiating programs that will better

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meet war fighting and operational

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requirements , and transforming Navy

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acquisition through the establishment

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of 10 portfolio acquisition executives

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as required by the fiscal year 2026

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National Defense Authorization Act . To

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streamline acquisition and more rapidly

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deliver capabilities to the fleet .

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General Austin is one of these 10 PAEs .

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Beyond ships , we're funding the

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readiness of our fleet to 95% , buying

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123 new aircraft , procuring both

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high-end and low-cost munitions to fill

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our magazines , accelerating Marine

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Corps force design investments , and

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prioritizing research and development

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to ensure sailors and marines can

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defeat any adversary for decades to

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come . The challenge , the challenges

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ahead are real , but so are the

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opportunities . Rebuilding our

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industrial capacity is a long-term

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effort that requires a broad ,

12:44.937 --> 12:47.048
sustained commitment . The Department

12:47.048 --> 12:49.214
of the Navy is fully committed to this

12:49.214 --> 12:51.437
mission . With your continued support ,

12:51.437 --> 12:53.548
we will ensure the United States Navy

12:53.548 --> 12:55.381
and Marine Corps remain the most

12:55.381 --> 12:57.326
capable , ready , and lethal naval

12:57.326 --> 12:59.492
force in the world . I look forward to

12:59.492 --> 13:03.429
your questions . Thank you . Chairman

13:03.429 --> 13:05.262
Kelly , Ranking Me of Courtney ,

13:05.262 --> 13:07.373
committee members , thank you for the

13:07.373 --> 13:09.540
opportunity to testify today on the US

13:09.540 --> 13:11.596
Navy Sea power investment priorities

13:11.596 --> 13:13.540
for 2027 . Thank you also for your

13:13.540 --> 13:15.540
efforts both on Capitol Hill and in

13:15.540 --> 13:15.190
your districts to support our

13:15.190 --> 13:17.246
servicemen and women as they protect

13:17.246 --> 13:19.357
our great nation . Your oversight and

13:19.357 --> 13:21.190
funding ensure they are properly

13:21.190 --> 13:23.412
equipped to face the challenges of 21st

13:23.412 --> 13:25.634
century warfare . At this very moment ,

13:25.634 --> 13:27.690
tens of thousands of service members

13:27.690 --> 13:29.746
are forward deployed across multiple

13:29.746 --> 13:29.580
oceans and time zones . Their

13:29.580 --> 13:31.580
resilience and lethality remain the

13:31.580 --> 13:34.010
true measure of our naval power . The

13:34.010 --> 13:36.010
imperative for this maritime combat

13:36.010 --> 13:38.260
power is no longer theoretical . It is

13:38.260 --> 13:40.979
observable and urgent . Across multiple

13:40.979 --> 13:43.369
theaters . US naval forces are actively

13:43.369 --> 13:45.289
engaged in operations to deter

13:45.289 --> 13:47.289
aggression and to ensure a free and

13:47.289 --> 13:49.859
open maritime domain . Today's security

13:49.859 --> 13:51.970
environment is faster , more lethal ,

13:52.020 --> 13:54.020
and more contested than anything we

13:54.020 --> 13:56.076
have experienced in modern history .

13:56.076 --> 13:58.131
Meeting this challenge requires more

13:58.131 --> 13:59.964
than an incremental upgrade . It

13:59.964 --> 14:02.187
requires fundamental shift . This shift

14:02.187 --> 14:03.964
is the driving force behind the

14:03.964 --> 14:05.964
president's 2027 budget . This is a

14:05.964 --> 14:08.242
bold reimagining of American sea power .

14:08.242 --> 14:09.853
Instead of relying solely on

14:09.853 --> 14:12.076
traditional fleet architectures , we're

14:12.076 --> 14:14.298
building a highly adaptable distributed

14:14.298 --> 14:16.520
maritime force . We are teaming premier

14:16.520 --> 14:18.798
high-end carriers , surface combatants ,

14:18.798 --> 14:20.909
and submarines with increasing number

14:20.909 --> 14:23.076
of tailorable , unmanned , and rapidly

14:23.076 --> 14:25.131
deployable platforms . This high-low

14:25.131 --> 14:27.298
approach expands our reach , increases

14:27.298 --> 14:29.409
our flexibility , and complicates our

14:29.409 --> 14:31.464
adversaries' targeting calculus . It

14:31.464 --> 14:33.576
ensures that even in the most heavily

14:33.576 --> 14:35.687
contested waters we can see further ,

14:35.687 --> 14:37.853
hit harder , and adapt faster than any

14:37.853 --> 14:39.742
competitor . The president's 2027

14:39.742 --> 14:41.798
budget request reflects the need for

14:41.798 --> 14:43.853
both sustaining our fleet while also

14:43.853 --> 14:45.742
driving transformative efforts to

14:45.742 --> 14:47.909
extend our maritime dominance into the

14:47.909 --> 14:49.576
future . It includes critical

14:49.576 --> 14:51.520
investments to modernize our aging

14:51.520 --> 14:53.631
shipyards , to advance the production

14:53.631 --> 14:55.631
of munitions , and to reinforce the

14:55.631 --> 14:57.687
industrial base that builds , arms ,

14:57.687 --> 14:59.909
and sustains our fleet . This committee

14:59.909 --> 15:01.853
is a central partner in preserving

15:01.853 --> 15:03.798
American maritime supremacy . Your

15:03.798 --> 15:05.853
steadfast support is what makes this

15:05.853 --> 15:07.909
transition possible and is what will

15:07.909 --> 15:10.020
help us build the naval force capable

15:10.020 --> 15:11.909
of not only deterring but also if

15:11.909 --> 15:13.964
called upon to win decisively in any

15:13.964 --> 15:16.076
future conflict . Thank you again for

15:16.076 --> 15:17.798
your time and , uh , continued

15:17.798 --> 15:19.909
dedication and support to our men and

15:19.909 --> 15:19.619
women in uniform . I look forward to

15:19.619 --> 15:23.359
your questions . General . Chairman

15:23.359 --> 15:25.470
Kelly , Ranking Member Courtney , and

15:25.470 --> 15:27.137
distinguished members of this

15:27.137 --> 15:28.970
subcommittee , thank you for the

15:28.970 --> 15:28.469
opportunity to appear before you today .

15:28.520 --> 15:30.242
I'm honored , uh , to join you

15:30.242 --> 15:32.409
alongside Mr . Potter and Rear Admiral

15:32.409 --> 15:34.353
Benning . The pacing threat is not

15:34.353 --> 15:36.464
standing still , and neither are we .

15:36.464 --> 15:38.464
This budget , as submitted balances

15:38.464 --> 15:40.631
crisis response with modernization and

15:40.631 --> 15:40.400
enables the Marine Corps to field

15:40.400 --> 15:42.799
warfighting capabilities at scale . We

15:42.799 --> 15:44.799
are implementing our force designed

15:44.799 --> 15:46.632
2030 vision . We are rapidly and

15:46.632 --> 15:48.688
responsibly modernizing and fielding

15:48.688 --> 15:50.799
capabilities that make our formations

15:50.799 --> 15:52.966
lethal and survivable . As we sit here

15:52.966 --> 15:55.188
today , over 43,000 Marines are forward

15:55.188 --> 15:56.966
deployed or forward stationed ,

15:56.966 --> 15:59.188
campaigning , deterring , strengthening

15:59.188 --> 15:58.590
alliances , and in many cases they're

15:58.590 --> 16:00.701
fighting and they're counting on us .

16:01.090 --> 16:03.146
No formation combines Navy sea power

16:03.146 --> 16:05.257
with the Marine air-ground task force

16:05.257 --> 16:07.090
in a more meaningful way than an

16:07.090 --> 16:09.146
amphibious ready group paired with a

16:09.146 --> 16:11.090
Marine expeditionary unit . When a

16:11.090 --> 16:13.146
crisis erupts , combatant commanders

16:13.146 --> 16:12.770
need capable , credible , and often

16:12.770 --> 16:14.937
lethal options that can respond within

16:14.937 --> 16:16.992
hours of tasking , operating forward

16:16.992 --> 16:19.048
from sovereign US territory afloat .

16:19.048 --> 16:20.881
The ARGMMU provides deterrence ,

16:20.881 --> 16:23.048
immediate global response options . It

16:23.048 --> 16:25.103
is the Swiss Army knife of the joint

16:25.103 --> 16:27.214
force . In the last year alone . AGMU

16:27.214 --> 16:29.270
have combated narco-terrorism in the

16:29.270 --> 16:31.492
Caribbean , provided disaster relief in

16:31.492 --> 16:33.714
Jamaica , in Guam , and in the Northern

16:33.714 --> 16:35.770
Marianas Islands . They've conducted

16:35.770 --> 16:35.390
combat operations across multiple

16:35.390 --> 16:37.668
geographic combatant commands and more ,

16:37.989 --> 16:39.878
campaigning and strengthening our

16:39.878 --> 16:42.045
relationships with allies and partners

16:42.045 --> 16:44.267
worldwide . Today , as we sit here , we

16:44.267 --> 16:45.878
have 3 ARGMMU deployed , but

16:45.878 --> 16:48.100
unfortunately it's episodic . It is not

16:48.100 --> 16:50.156
sustainable . To best support global

16:50.156 --> 16:52.045
demand , the Secretary of War has

16:52.045 --> 16:51.729
directed and the Acting Secretary of

16:51.729 --> 16:55.010
the Navy supports a continuous 3.0 AM

16:55.010 --> 16:57.159
posture is our North Star . It is a

16:57.159 --> 16:59.103
shared goal . There is no daylight

16:59.103 --> 17:01.215
between the Navy and the Marine Corps

17:01.215 --> 17:03.270
to this end . The president's budget

17:03.270 --> 17:05.326
for fiscal year 27 as submitted is a

17:05.326 --> 17:07.048
generational investment in the

17:07.048 --> 17:09.270
readiness and procurement of amphibious

17:09.270 --> 17:11.492
warfare ships and enablers necessary to

17:11.492 --> 17:13.548
restore this model . Beyond physical

17:13.548 --> 17:15.492
presence , deterrence , and crisis

17:15.492 --> 17:17.770
response rely on credible combat power .

17:17.770 --> 17:19.603
To this end , we're adapting and

17:19.603 --> 17:21.826
diversifying our fires portfolio with a

17:21.826 --> 17:21.479
focus on a high low mix . On the low

17:21.479 --> 17:23.368
end , we're investing in low cost

17:23.368 --> 17:25.535
attack drones and similar capabilities

17:25.535 --> 17:27.757
that provide precision , reach , mass ,

17:27.757 --> 17:29.868
and lethality organic to our infantry

17:29.868 --> 17:32.090
battalions . An example of the high end

17:32.090 --> 17:34.146
is the Navy Marine Expeditioner ship

17:34.146 --> 17:36.312
Interdiction System Nemesis . Which is

17:36.312 --> 17:38.535
being fielded today , Marines leveraged

17:38.535 --> 17:40.535
Nemesis to provide land-based fires

17:40.535 --> 17:42.701
that contribute to sea control and sea

17:42.701 --> 17:44.535
denial . This is new and this is

17:44.535 --> 17:46.510
important . This budget balances

17:46.510 --> 17:48.677
lethality and survivability . It makes

17:48.677 --> 17:50.732
necessary investments in our layered

17:50.732 --> 17:52.788
ground-based air defense and counter

17:52.788 --> 17:54.899
UAS capabilities , more than doubling

17:54.899 --> 17:56.677
last year's investments in this

17:56.677 --> 17:59.790
essential portfolio . Littoral surface

17:59.790 --> 18:01.901
mobility is a gap for today's force .

18:02.189 --> 18:04.245
The medium landing ship will provide

18:04.245 --> 18:06.356
Marines with organic surface mobility

18:06.356 --> 18:08.522
and maneuver essential for campaigning

18:08.522 --> 18:10.467
in the Indo-Pacific and applicable

18:10.467 --> 18:12.689
worldwide when operating in littorals .

18:12.689 --> 18:14.911
It is late the need . We learned a hard

18:14.911 --> 18:14.229
lesson in execution of our initial

18:14.229 --> 18:16.062
acquisition strategy and rapidly

18:16.062 --> 18:18.285
reworked it , which was resolved in the

18:18.285 --> 18:20.507
selection of a mature non-developmental

18:20.507 --> 18:22.451
design . We're leveraging a vessel

18:22.451 --> 18:22.270
construction manager , multiple

18:22.270 --> 18:24.381
shipyards , and have the resources to

18:24.381 --> 18:26.603
begin procurement of LSM . We will bend

18:26.603 --> 18:28.770
metal on our first article this fiscal

18:28.770 --> 18:30.937
year . We are grateful for the support

18:30.937 --> 18:33.103
of the president , Congress , our Navy

18:33.103 --> 18:32.569
partners , which all of which

18:32.569 --> 18:34.513
underpinned our ability to rapidly

18:34.513 --> 18:36.569
pivot to this innovative acquisition

18:36.569 --> 18:38.791
strategy . Speaking of acquisition , we

18:38.791 --> 18:40.791
must go faster . We support and are

18:40.791 --> 18:40.609
fully engaged in the department-wide

18:40.609 --> 18:42.776
acquisition reform centered around the

18:42.776 --> 18:44.553
transition to the new portfolio

18:44.553 --> 18:47.500
acquisition executive construct . This

18:47.500 --> 18:49.667
construct provides the tools necessary

18:49.667 --> 18:51.389
to increase velocity , deliver

18:51.389 --> 18:53.500
integrated and lethal capabilities to

18:53.500 --> 18:55.222
the hands of our Marines on an

18:55.222 --> 18:57.444
operationally relevant timeline . It is

18:57.444 --> 18:59.389
essential and notable that in this

18:59.389 --> 19:01.389
context , your Marine Corps remains

19:01.389 --> 19:03.389
committed to responsibly invest and

19:03.389 --> 19:05.278
fully account for every $1 we are

19:05.278 --> 19:07.389
provided . We recently earned our 3rd

19:07.389 --> 19:09.611
clean audit opinion . We'll continue to

19:09.611 --> 19:09.140
account for the resources Congress and

19:09.140 --> 19:11.140
our nation provide . We're proud of

19:11.140 --> 19:13.307
this fact . And ladies and gentlemen ,

19:13.307 --> 19:15.473
the FY 27 budget as requested balances

19:15.473 --> 19:17.696
readiness with modernization and allows

19:17.696 --> 19:19.807
the Marine Corps to procure and field

19:19.807 --> 19:21.918
key capabilities at scale and enables

19:21.918 --> 19:21.209
us to remain first to fight our

19:21.209 --> 19:22.987
nation's expeditionary force in

19:22.987 --> 19:24.987
readiness . We're grateful for your

19:24.987 --> 19:27.153
continued support , and I look forward

19:27.153 --> 19:28.931
to your questions . I thank the

19:28.931 --> 19:31.098
witnesses . I now recognize myself for

19:31.098 --> 19:33.320
5 minutes and questions . Mr . Potter ,

19:33.320 --> 19:35.209
strengthening and stabilizing the

19:35.209 --> 19:37.153
demand signal we're sending to the

19:37.153 --> 19:37.050
defense industrial base has been a

19:37.050 --> 19:39.161
particular focus of this subcommittee

19:39.161 --> 19:41.439
and the full committee in recent years ,

19:41.439 --> 19:43.550
but the department also has a role to

19:43.550 --> 19:45.772
play in righting the wrongs of the past

19:45.772 --> 19:47.828
when it comes to acquisitions . Mr .

19:47.828 --> 19:49.994
Potty Potter , can you shed some light

19:49.994 --> 19:52.217
on the efforts y'all are making on your

19:52.217 --> 19:54.050
end to steady the demand curve ?

19:56.630 --> 19:58.852
Chairman , thank you very much , and we

19:58.852 --> 20:00.797
agree that , uh , steady demand in

20:00.797 --> 20:03.010
providing , uh , the shipyards , uh ,

20:03.020 --> 20:05.430
with as much kind of work as they can

20:05.430 --> 20:08.339
produce is a , a key , uh , to how we

20:08.339 --> 20:10.630
grow the fleet . And so we're focused

20:10.630 --> 20:12.408
on , um , you know , multi-year

20:12.408 --> 20:14.241
procurements are one of the best

20:14.241 --> 20:15.963
practices we've got for , um ,

20:15.963 --> 20:18.019
providing steady demand and ensuring

20:18.019 --> 20:20.019
through the budget cycles , uh , we

20:20.019 --> 20:22.186
stay , uh , committed to that . As you

20:22.186 --> 20:24.130
know , we've got , uh , multi-ship

20:24.130 --> 20:26.352
procurements or multi-year procurements

20:26.352 --> 20:28.463
on amphibious ships , on submarines ,

20:28.463 --> 20:30.574
on destroyers , aircraft carriers are

20:30.574 --> 20:32.797
under a block-by currently , and , uh ,

20:32.797 --> 20:34.741
oilers are under a block by . So a

20:34.741 --> 20:36.797
number across all classes of ships ,

20:36.797 --> 20:38.963
once we have a stable design , uh , we

20:38.963 --> 20:40.686
like to move into some kind of

20:40.686 --> 20:43.019
multi-ship procurement arrangement . Um ,

20:43.019 --> 20:45.369
Beyond that , this budget provides two

20:45.369 --> 20:48.310
additional , um , uh , amphibious ships

20:48.650 --> 20:51.209
to really spool up the amphibious

20:51.209 --> 20:53.320
shipbuilding production line and grow

20:53.320 --> 20:55.376
it , uh , that gives it even greater

20:55.376 --> 20:57.569
demand and , uh , and incentive to

20:57.569 --> 20:59.736
reduce the intervals in those builds .

20:59.869 --> 21:01.980
So I think this , this budget , sir ,

21:01.980 --> 21:04.091
with the 18 , um , battle for ships ,

21:04.091 --> 21:07.369
16 non-battle 4 ships , 34 ships total ,

21:07.829 --> 21:09.718
uh , we're going to send a strong

21:09.718 --> 21:11.829
demand signal to industry . There's ,

21:11.829 --> 21:14.589
there's , we think about 18 competitive ,

21:14.699 --> 21:17.510
um , procurements in the , the fit up ,

21:17.709 --> 21:19.931
uh , versus , you know , less than 5 in

21:19.931 --> 21:22.098
normal years because of how much new ,

21:22.349 --> 21:24.589
um , activity and shipbuilding programs

21:24.589 --> 21:26.756
we're able to bring in the budget this

21:26.756 --> 21:28.645
year . So that is also additional

21:28.645 --> 21:30.533
demand opportunity , um , for our

21:30.533 --> 21:32.756
shipbuilding industrial base and for us

21:32.756 --> 21:35.089
to work with them on how that fits , um ,

21:35.089 --> 21:37.033
into their workload . And I really

21:37.033 --> 21:38.922
wanna thank y'all for the 30-year

21:38.922 --> 21:41.145
shipbuilding plan . Uh , it's a start ,

21:41.145 --> 21:43.311
and we just need to continue to refine

21:43.311 --> 21:45.533
and improve , but that's a big deal for

21:45.533 --> 21:47.589
sending a demand signal . So I thank

21:47.589 --> 21:49.756
you for that . Uh , General Austin and

21:49.756 --> 21:51.811
Admiral Benning , recent events have

21:51.811 --> 21:53.922
also been a reminder of the value and

21:53.922 --> 21:55.811
versatility of the 3.0 AGMU . The

21:55.811 --> 21:55.750
president says the tip of the spear as

21:55.750 --> 21:57.417
we project peace and strength

21:57.417 --> 21:59.528
throughout the growth . To that end ,

21:59.528 --> 22:01.750
we're working on faster MMib production

22:01.750 --> 22:03.861
and procurement , but we also need to

22:03.861 --> 22:06.083
stop procrastinating on maintaining the

22:06.083 --> 22:08.083
oils we do have . General Halston ,

22:08.083 --> 22:10.139
what kind of hurdles is that causing

22:10.139 --> 22:12.250
for the Marines and Admiral Benning ?

22:12.250 --> 22:14.250
What is the Navy doing to get AMIBs

22:14.250 --> 22:16.472
turned around quicker for maintenance ?

22:17.069 --> 22:19.291
Chairman , thank you for the question .

22:19.291 --> 22:21.347
Uh , it's obviously important to the

22:21.347 --> 22:23.402
Marine Corps , and I mentioned in my

22:23.402 --> 22:23.260
opening comments , as did you , the 3.0

22:23.260 --> 22:25.149
AGMU contract , which we think is

22:25.149 --> 22:26.982
necessary to provide the maximum

22:26.982 --> 22:29.149
coverage that we can for our nation in

22:29.149 --> 22:31.316
terms of campaigning and responding to

22:31.316 --> 22:33.538
crisis . Right now , uh , the readiness

22:33.538 --> 22:35.593
of our amphibious warfare ships does

22:35.593 --> 22:37.593
not support a 3.0 AGMU , uh , which

22:37.593 --> 22:39.704
impacts both training and preparation

22:39.704 --> 22:41.871
and certainly our coverage worldwide .

22:41.871 --> 22:44.260
As I stated today . We have 3 RMUS 4

22:44.260 --> 22:46.260
deployed and they're doing glorious

22:46.260 --> 22:48.427
work . 1 will return soon . We'll have

22:48.427 --> 22:50.593
2 , and then we'll start to experience

22:50.593 --> 22:52.538
more gaps . So the biggest thing I

22:52.538 --> 22:54.649
would say is the gaps in coverage and

22:54.649 --> 22:56.704
the lack of support to our combatant

22:56.704 --> 22:58.816
commanders as articulated direct from

22:58.816 --> 23:00.871
them to the to the chairman . I will

23:00.871 --> 23:03.149
tell you that at the present time . Uh ,

23:03.149 --> 23:05.371
I said it in my statement , there is no

23:05.371 --> 23:07.427
daylight between the Navy and Marine

23:07.427 --> 23:06.430
Corps , and we're in a good place . And

23:06.430 --> 23:08.652
one of the , the key bodies that I'll ,

23:08.652 --> 23:10.597
I'll hand it off to , uh , Admiral

23:10.597 --> 23:12.930
Benning in a second here , sir , is the ,

23:12.930 --> 23:14.930
the , uh , Amphibious Forces , uh ,

23:14.930 --> 23:14.579
Readiness Board , which is co-chaired

23:14.579 --> 23:16.709
by the vice CNO and the Assistant

23:16.709 --> 23:18.987
Commandant of the Marine Corps , which ,

23:18.987 --> 23:20.876
uh , highlights the , uh , senior

23:20.876 --> 23:23.042
leader interest , uh , and the , the ,

23:23.042 --> 23:25.376
the collaboration , uh , in this . So I ,

23:25.376 --> 23:27.598
I will stop my comments there and ask ,

23:27.598 --> 23:27.329
uh , Mark to cover down on that , sir .

23:28.689 --> 23:30.633
Chairman , sir , thank you for the

23:30.633 --> 23:32.800
question . Uh , as indicated , I fully

23:32.800 --> 23:34.911
agree with , with General Austin , no

23:34.911 --> 23:36.745
daylight between us . And as you

23:36.745 --> 23:36.449
highlighted , you know , readiness is

23:36.449 --> 23:38.505
not where it needs to be . We're not

23:38.505 --> 23:40.616
satisfied with that and we're working

23:40.616 --> 23:40.369
hard to get after that . A couple of

23:40.369 --> 23:42.530
things that we're doing , there are 5

23:42.530 --> 23:44.197
lines of effort in the , uh ,

23:44.197 --> 23:46.419
amphibious force readiness board . Uh ,

23:46.419 --> 23:48.641
so there's one certainly looking at how

23:48.641 --> 23:50.752
do we better generate the force and ,

23:50.752 --> 23:52.919
and maintain it , readiness in between

23:52.919 --> 23:55.141
its major maintenance availability . So

23:55.141 --> 23:57.197
that's the OFRP model and , uh , and

23:57.197 --> 23:59.449
readiness . There's another line of

23:59.449 --> 24:01.505
effort that how do we make sure that

24:01.505 --> 24:03.338
the equipment that we have , the

24:03.338 --> 24:05.560
platforms we have , we can extend those

24:05.560 --> 24:05.439
to , to give us the force structure we

24:05.439 --> 24:07.606
need and we can modernize them so they

24:07.606 --> 24:09.606
remain combat capable , uh , in the

24:09.606 --> 24:11.606
future . And then the last part was

24:11.606 --> 24:13.717
certainly the , the focus on , on new

24:13.717 --> 24:15.439
construction . With regards to

24:15.439 --> 24:17.550
maintenance in particular , there's a

24:17.550 --> 24:19.828
couple of things that we're doing , uh ,

24:19.828 --> 24:19.790
to , in order to get after is changing

24:19.790 --> 24:21.401
how we think , act , operate

24:21.401 --> 24:23.457
differently . So there's a signature

24:23.457 --> 24:25.623
veils . We have moved the timeline for

24:25.623 --> 24:27.846
the planning from 3 months prior to the

24:27.846 --> 24:29.957
veil to 1 year in advance , and we're

24:29.957 --> 24:32.179
locking those down so that we know what

24:32.179 --> 24:34.123
work is gonna be done . We get the

24:34.123 --> 24:36.123
parts in advance . We're looking at

24:36.123 --> 24:38.346
adding additional port engineers , so 2

24:38.346 --> 24:40.568
port engineers per availability to help

24:40.568 --> 24:40.469
manage the workflow and setting

24:40.469 --> 24:42.413
conditions and , and ensure we get

24:42.413 --> 24:44.191
through the work on time and on

24:44.191 --> 24:46.191
sequence . We're taking some of the

24:46.191 --> 24:48.413
more challenging maintenance items such

24:48.413 --> 24:50.580
as diesel maintenance and , and , uh ,

24:50.580 --> 24:52.802
we're pulling those out of those avails

24:52.802 --> 24:54.969
and doing that at a different time and

24:54.969 --> 24:57.025
focused on that . So you come in and

24:57.025 --> 24:56.699
more like a pit stop and you just focus

24:56.699 --> 24:58.866
on the diesel engine , you get it done

24:58.866 --> 25:01.088
on time , and then you , you move out .

25:01.088 --> 25:03.310
Uh , in addition , I'm , I'm gonna take

25:03.310 --> 25:05.255
the rest for the record because my

25:05.255 --> 25:05.180
time's expired and I try to be generous

25:05.180 --> 25:07.347
with the , not , not too generous with

25:07.347 --> 25:09.458
these guys . So thank you , Admiral .

25:09.458 --> 25:11.791
Now recognize Mr . Courtney . Thank you ,

25:11.791 --> 25:14.124
uh , Mr . Chair . So , uh , Mr . Potter ,

25:14.124 --> 25:15.958
as I mentioned earlier . Again ,

25:15.958 --> 25:17.736
there's some concern about some

25:17.736 --> 25:20.000
ambiguity that was in the omnibus

25:20.579 --> 25:23.550
spending bill . That , you know , some

25:23.550 --> 25:26.589
feel maybe um conflicts or raises a

25:26.589 --> 25:28.811
question regarding the authorization of

25:28.811 --> 25:30.978
the Block 6 contract , which again for

25:30.978 --> 25:33.200
the record happened about 28 months ago

25:33.200 --> 25:35.959
uh in terms of the NDAA that was passed .

25:36.339 --> 25:38.395
Back then we're we're really this is

25:38.395 --> 25:40.228
probably one of the longest gaps

25:40.228 --> 25:42.395
between authorization and execution of

25:42.395 --> 25:44.283
a black contract for the Virginia

25:44.283 --> 25:46.395
program so again can you just sort of

25:46.395 --> 25:48.506
describe what your sort of view is in

25:48.506 --> 25:50.395
terms of trying to get this issue

25:50.395 --> 25:52.117
resolved and move forward with

25:52.117 --> 25:55.300
execution of the contract ? Yes , sir .

25:55.380 --> 25:57.819
Um , so we are , uh , aware of the

25:57.819 --> 26:01.739
issue , and this is , uh , section 8010

26:01.739 --> 26:04.079
and the year-long continuing resolution

26:04.079 --> 26:06.609
for defense . And I think , uh , it's ,

26:06.689 --> 26:09.349
it was written differently than either

26:09.349 --> 26:11.571
of the committee marks that came out of

26:11.571 --> 26:13.682
the two appropriations , uh , defense

26:13.682 --> 26:15.849
subcommittees , and we're working very

26:15.849 --> 26:18.071
closely , uh , within the Department of

26:18.071 --> 26:19.960
War and with , um , the Office of

26:19.960 --> 26:22.016
Management and Budget and with the ,

26:22.016 --> 26:24.182
the committees we're committed to sort

26:24.182 --> 26:26.349
of working through , uh , to find that

26:26.349 --> 26:28.516
appropriate , uh , remedy here because

26:28.516 --> 26:30.738
we believe . Uh , the intent is to move

26:30.738 --> 26:32.849
forward with these contracts , and it

26:32.849 --> 26:35.016
was not , um , intended , uh , to hold

26:35.016 --> 26:37.238
it up . So we just need , uh , a little

26:37.238 --> 26:39.405
more time , sir , and we commit to get

26:39.405 --> 26:41.238
back to you with the outcome . I

26:41.238 --> 26:43.349
appreciate that . And again , there's

26:43.349 --> 26:45.182
no question that , um , in FY 24

26:45.182 --> 26:47.609
appropriations bill and NDAA , both

26:47.609 --> 26:50.119
committees . Um , you know , we're

26:50.119 --> 26:52.319
explicitly clear about the fact that ,

26:52.479 --> 26:54.646
you know , those contracts were , were

26:54.646 --> 26:56.923
authorized and , and valid in terms in ,

26:56.923 --> 26:59.090
in part of the intent of Congress . So

26:59.090 --> 27:01.090
appreciate your efforts that that's

27:01.090 --> 27:02.979
there . So , um , you know , as I

27:02.979 --> 27:04.979
mentioned before , I've been around

27:04.979 --> 27:07.090
long enough to sort of see some other

27:07.090 --> 27:09.201
programs with , you know , high hopes

27:09.201 --> 27:11.312
sort of not really materialize , um ,

27:11.312 --> 27:13.590
the cruiser replacement . Uh , program ,

27:13.590 --> 27:15.590
the CGX , um , program , you know ,

27:15.590 --> 27:18.010
Zumwalt , um , again it was big plans

27:18.010 --> 27:20.121
to build a large fleet of those ships

27:20.121 --> 27:23.199
that it was truncated after 3 , ships ,

27:23.209 --> 27:25.160
uh , were built . Um , obviously

27:25.160 --> 27:27.382
thetoral combat ship was always kind of

27:27.382 --> 27:29.438
a moving target , and I think , um .

27:29.438 --> 27:31.660
Again , the size of that fleet also was

27:31.660 --> 27:33.382
truncated , so this new , uh ,

27:33.382 --> 27:35.493
battleship proposal which , um , came

27:35.493 --> 27:37.716
forward and I'll set aside for a moment

27:37.716 --> 27:39.771
any of the questions about its , you

27:39.771 --> 27:42.049
know , strategic , um , tactical value ,

27:42.049 --> 27:44.327
but , um , in terms of industrial base ,

27:44.327 --> 27:46.650
um , issues , um , you know , it was a

27:46.650 --> 27:48.939
poster board in December . We , we now

27:48.939 --> 27:51.106
got a budget document in front of us .

27:51.106 --> 27:53.161
There really is no design plans that

27:53.161 --> 27:55.495
have materialized yet at this point yet .

27:55.495 --> 27:57.161
It's talking about going into

27:57.161 --> 28:00.099
production in FYA 28 and . You know ,

28:00.219 --> 28:02.489
um , I , I just think the most

28:02.489 --> 28:05.660
optimistic hopes in terms of moving at

28:05.660 --> 28:08.140
that pace given the size of this

28:08.140 --> 28:10.362
platform , the fact that it's now going

28:10.362 --> 28:12.584
to be a nuclear powered , uh , vessel ,

28:12.584 --> 28:14.473
um , and we only have two nuclear

28:14.473 --> 28:16.584
certified yards , one that does not ,

28:16.584 --> 28:18.696
is not big enough to accommodate that

28:18.696 --> 28:20.918
large of a vessel up in , uh , Groton ,

28:20.918 --> 28:22.973
uh , and the other is pretty chock a

28:22.973 --> 28:25.359
block in terms of , um . Uh , you know ,

28:25.560 --> 28:27.839
car , uh , carrier construction that's

28:27.839 --> 28:29.920
going on there . So I , I wanna just

28:29.920 --> 28:31.809
sort of raise those issues if you

28:31.809 --> 28:34.087
wanted to comment , um , you know , we ,

28:34.087 --> 28:36.253
we , there's a lot of discussions that

28:36.253 --> 28:38.476
are gonna go into this issue , I know ,

28:38.476 --> 28:40.920
in the coming weeks . Congressman , I

28:40.920 --> 28:43.031
appreciate the opportunity to comment

28:43.031 --> 28:45.198
and we'll continue , um , to work with

28:45.198 --> 28:47.142
you and your staff to provide more

28:47.142 --> 28:49.253
information on this . And really , we

28:49.253 --> 28:51.920
are mindful of the CGX , LCS , DDG 1000 ,

28:52.079 --> 28:54.135
uh , you know , and some of the best

28:54.135 --> 28:56.301
practices , lessons learned from those

28:56.301 --> 28:58.439
programs . And where we began on this

28:58.439 --> 29:00.606
was we knew we needed a larger , large

29:00.606 --> 29:02.661
surface combatant as Admiral Benning

29:02.661 --> 29:04.272
can kind of walk through the

29:04.272 --> 29:06.606
requirements , but to get to this point .

29:06.606 --> 29:09.380
Uh , the DDG Flight 3 is really full to

29:09.380 --> 29:11.547
the point we had to , you know , widen

29:11.547 --> 29:13.491
the stern by about 6 ft to fit the

29:13.491 --> 29:15.436
generators in as we added the more

29:15.436 --> 29:17.547
powerful radar . So we know we need a

29:17.547 --> 29:19.547
larger , large service combatant to

29:19.547 --> 29:21.880
pace the threat in the 2030s and beyond .

29:21.880 --> 29:24.102
And we've used a design team that we've

29:24.102 --> 29:26.324
had together since about 2023 , uh , on

29:26.324 --> 29:28.547
DDGX to move , uh , to the battleship ,

29:28.547 --> 29:30.380
which is a larger , uh , than we

29:30.380 --> 29:32.491
originally intended for DDGX , but it

29:32.491 --> 29:34.713
has mature systems . So the plan on the

29:34.713 --> 29:36.920
battleship is to use the proven Spy 6

29:36.920 --> 29:40.119
radar , Aegis baseline 10 , proven ASW

29:40.119 --> 29:42.560
suite , um , the Mark 41 vertical

29:42.560 --> 29:44.449
launcher . We're going to bring a

29:44.449 --> 29:47.180
low-risk , uh , larger volume missile ,

29:47.329 --> 29:49.496
um , launcher as well . And then we'll

29:49.496 --> 29:51.440
have reservations for , so space ,

29:51.459 --> 29:54.140
weight , power set aside for lasers and

29:54.140 --> 29:56.362
rail gun and things we will acknowledge

29:56.362 --> 29:58.529
are not ready to be part of the design

29:58.529 --> 30:00.696
today . And so that was always part of

30:00.696 --> 30:02.807
the plan with DDGX as well . So we're

30:02.807 --> 30:04.973
going to pull through proven systems .

30:04.973 --> 30:07.140
The A1B , uh , propulsion plant on the

30:07.140 --> 30:09.459
carrier is the propulsion plant . So we

30:09.459 --> 30:11.770
view this as things that have been

30:11.770 --> 30:14.449
designed in , in other ships that we

30:14.449 --> 30:16.560
need to work through the arrangements

30:16.770 --> 30:19.290
and how , um , on the battleship we're

30:19.290 --> 30:21.401
going to be able to design , but with

30:21.401 --> 30:23.401
the digital tools and design . Uh ,

30:23.401 --> 30:25.979
techniques we have , that's kind of how

30:25.979 --> 30:27.979
we feel like we can move forward on

30:27.979 --> 30:30.090
this timeline . We're in what we call

30:30.090 --> 30:32.312
indicative design now that comes before

30:32.312 --> 30:34.423
contract design , and we can walk you

30:34.423 --> 30:36.479
through kind of how our design build

30:36.479 --> 30:38.701
strategy is , uh , going forward . Lots

30:38.701 --> 30:40.535
of questions . I'll yield back .

30:40.535 --> 30:42.701
Gentleman's time expired like mine . I

30:42.701 --> 30:45.270
now recognize Mr . Whitman . Thank you

30:45.270 --> 30:47.381
Mr . Chairman . I'd like to thank our

30:47.381 --> 30:49.492
witnesses for joining us today . Mr .

30:49.492 --> 30:48.459
Potter , I'd like to start with you ,

30:48.510 --> 30:50.677
and I'm gonna follow up on some of the

30:50.677 --> 30:52.954
questions that Mr . Courtney had posed ,

30:52.954 --> 30:54.677
uh , talking about the 30 year

30:54.677 --> 30:56.899
shipbuilding plan . Uh , listen to some

30:56.899 --> 30:58.788
good components of it . Also some

30:58.788 --> 31:00.954
questions about building the platforms

31:00.954 --> 31:03.010
that we need and making sure that we

31:03.010 --> 31:05.232
can get to executing those construction

31:05.232 --> 31:07.343
projects as quickly as possible . One

31:07.343 --> 31:09.399
of the questions obviously is with .

31:09.399 --> 31:09.319
The battleship component we were

31:09.319 --> 31:11.097
originally told it was gonna be

31:11.097 --> 31:13.041
conventionally powered . Now we're

31:13.041 --> 31:14.875
being told it's gonna be nuclear

31:14.875 --> 31:16.541
powered , and we know that on

31:16.541 --> 31:18.708
submarines we need to get to a cadence

31:18.708 --> 31:20.763
of 2.3 Virginia class per year and 1

31:20.763 --> 31:22.819
Columbia class per year . We have an

31:22.819 --> 31:25.079
overwhelming advantage . Against the

31:25.079 --> 31:27.829
Chinese in the undersea world , uh , we

31:27.829 --> 31:29.940
need to press the gas pedal so we can

31:29.940 --> 31:31.996
continue to maintain that because if

31:31.996 --> 31:34.218
you look at the pace at which 6688s are

31:34.218 --> 31:36.218
coming out of the inventory and the

31:36.218 --> 31:38.440
pace at which Ohio class are coming out

31:38.440 --> 31:40.662
of the inventory , that should be where

31:40.662 --> 31:43.239
the gas pedal is pressed . When we talk

31:43.239 --> 31:45.350
about the battleship and when we talk

31:45.350 --> 31:47.461
about being nuclear powered , what we

31:47.461 --> 31:49.461
see is there is now a confluence of

31:49.461 --> 31:52.660
demand for nuclear reactors . And the

31:52.660 --> 31:54.780
question then becomes in meeting the

31:54.780 --> 31:57.002
demand signal that we should be meeting

31:57.002 --> 31:59.219
for Virginia class for Ohio class and

31:59.219 --> 32:01.386
now adding another demand signal there

32:01.660 --> 32:04.000
with in addition to the Ford class

32:04.140 --> 32:06.084
reactors being built and now we're

32:06.084 --> 32:08.251
being told that the Ford class reactor

32:08.251 --> 32:09.973
is gonna be used in the in the

32:09.973 --> 32:12.029
battleship , the question would be .

32:12.079 --> 32:14.560
With a challenge in industrial capacity

32:14.560 --> 32:16.393
and only one supplier of nuclear

32:16.393 --> 32:18.959
reactors , uh , where are we in looking

32:18.959 --> 32:20.848
at being able to meet that demand

32:20.848 --> 32:23.070
signal and being able to meet it at the

32:23.070 --> 32:25.181
speed of relevance in relation to all

32:25.181 --> 32:27.348
the other demands that are coming with

32:27.348 --> 32:29.459
that , uh , and knowing that we don't

32:29.459 --> 32:31.681
have a big surplus of reactors standing

32:31.681 --> 32:33.681
by in , in order to be able to meet

32:33.681 --> 32:35.348
this . So give , give me your

32:35.348 --> 32:38.280
perspective there and also . You know ,

32:38.359 --> 32:40.581
as we look at the design of that ship ,

32:40.581 --> 32:42.137
obviously there'll be other

32:42.137 --> 32:44.248
conventionally powered systems on the

32:44.248 --> 32:46.192
ship , diesel generators and those

32:46.192 --> 32:48.470
sorts of proponents that are providing .

32:48.470 --> 32:48.339
Other power source generation there .

32:49.510 --> 32:51.177
I'd be interested to get your

32:51.177 --> 32:53.343
perspective on how do we integrate all

32:53.343 --> 32:55.399
those now different sources of power

32:55.399 --> 32:57.232
and try to provide the different

32:57.232 --> 32:59.949
fueling for those with a ship that has

32:59.949 --> 33:02.189
at least the propulsion system being

33:02.189 --> 33:04.189
nuclear powered and then the demand

33:04.189 --> 33:05.856
signal that comes from that .

33:08.800 --> 33:10.967
Congressman , yeah , thank you for the

33:10.967 --> 33:13.022
question . And I , on , um , Newport

33:13.022 --> 33:15.078
News and their workload , I'll start

33:15.078 --> 33:17.640
with that one . we view dry dock 12 and

33:17.640 --> 33:19.807
we've been in , you know , preliminary

33:19.807 --> 33:21.807
discussions here on the , the build

33:21.807 --> 33:23.862
approach where it can be partitioned

33:23.862 --> 33:25.973
and there's a path here where we need

33:25.973 --> 33:28.140
to work on the phasing with CVN 81 and

33:28.140 --> 33:30.920
82 in the battleship , but there , we

33:30.920 --> 33:33.087
view there is capacity , uh , with the

33:33.087 --> 33:35.198
way in which that dry dock , uh , can

33:35.198 --> 33:37.800
be , um , configured . Uh , and so we

33:37.800 --> 33:40.119
also agree Newport News is the final

33:40.119 --> 33:42.341
assembly yard , um , you know , for the

33:42.341 --> 33:44.286
battleship , and that would be our

33:44.286 --> 33:46.508
intention . Part of how we get there is

33:46.508 --> 33:48.341
the distributed shipbuilding and

33:48.341 --> 33:50.675
wrecking and the build strategy of , um ,

33:50.675 --> 33:52.675
these different modules that we are

33:52.675 --> 33:54.508
building for the either Flight 3

33:54.508 --> 33:56.675
destroyers or on the carrier today and

33:56.675 --> 33:58.750
how we can build those , um , most

33:58.750 --> 34:00.972
efficiently to bring together for final

34:00.972 --> 34:03.709
assembly at Newport News . They with

34:03.709 --> 34:06.729
BWXT , uh , which is a fantastic , uh ,

34:06.739 --> 34:09.729
company and a company that , um , we ,

34:09.750 --> 34:11.750
uh , absolutely rely on for nuclear

34:11.750 --> 34:13.972
power . We've looked at , uh , going to

34:13.972 --> 34:16.083
3 Virginia class submarines a year in

34:16.083 --> 34:18.083
the past and how we , uh , increase

34:18.083 --> 34:20.306
nuclear reactor production in Lynchburg

34:20.306 --> 34:22.083
and elsewhere . I mean , that's

34:22.083 --> 34:24.306
something we're absolutely looking at ,

34:24.306 --> 34:26.417
uh , as part of the battleship plan .

34:26.417 --> 34:28.361
This has to be an expansion of the

34:28.361 --> 34:30.528
industrial base , um , and not come at

34:30.528 --> 34:32.583
the expense of . And so we commit to

34:32.583 --> 34:34.694
you to again , continue to give you ,

34:34.694 --> 34:37.418
um , more refined answers . Well , I

34:37.418 --> 34:39.529
think it's gonna be important because

34:39.529 --> 34:41.696
this is threading the needle on this .

34:41.696 --> 34:43.696
When you look at the sweet spot for

34:43.696 --> 34:45.918
carrier production , it's right in that

34:45.918 --> 34:48.029
5 to 6 year centers , and we know too

34:48.029 --> 34:50.251
that that is also based upon being able

34:50.251 --> 34:52.085
to produce those reactors , uh ,

34:52.085 --> 34:54.196
available space there to go and build

34:54.196 --> 34:56.307
workforce , all those things create a

34:56.307 --> 34:56.128
tremendous amount of pressure to make

34:56.128 --> 34:58.350
sure we stay on schedule there , and we

34:58.350 --> 35:00.540
know too when we buy . Uh , carriers

35:00.540 --> 35:02.596
two at a time . We know we have some

35:02.596 --> 35:04.596
economies of scale and some savings

35:04.596 --> 35:06.651
there , but I , I did want to ask to

35:06.651 --> 35:08.818
make sure that you look very carefully

35:08.818 --> 35:10.984
at that because that is a tremendously

35:10.984 --> 35:12.873
difficult spot that we're putting

35:12.873 --> 35:15.040
ourselves in and trying to do all at ,

35:15.040 --> 35:14.969
at the same time . Let me ask , uh ,

35:15.060 --> 35:17.060
too , is the Navy coordinating with

35:17.060 --> 35:19.282
interagency partners , particularly the

35:19.282 --> 35:21.393
uh , the Department of Commerce , and

35:21.393 --> 35:23.560
how we're trying to coordinate to make

35:23.560 --> 35:25.671
sure that . Shipbuilding efforts they

35:25.671 --> 35:27.893
are coordinated to make sure we get the

35:27.893 --> 35:27.320
best out of the industrial base because

35:27.320 --> 35:29.431
the biggest challenge for us in years

35:29.431 --> 35:31.598
to come is going to be industrial base

35:31.598 --> 35:33.764
capacity and workforce and things that

35:33.764 --> 35:35.876
exacerbate that are gonna affect what

35:35.876 --> 35:37.876
we can do to put these ships in the

35:37.876 --> 35:40.098
water . And Mr . Chairman , with , with

35:40.098 --> 35:39.840
that in mind , listen , Mr . Potter , I ,

35:39.959 --> 35:41.903
I wanna be respectful of everybody

35:41.903 --> 35:44.070
else's time . If you will give me that

35:44.070 --> 35:46.126
answer for the record , I will yield

35:46.126 --> 35:48.237
back . Thank you , Mr . Whitman . Now

35:48.237 --> 35:50.348
recognize Mr . Norcross . Thank you ,

35:50.348 --> 35:52.515
Chairman , and the witnesses for being

35:52.515 --> 35:54.515
here today . Well , yes , I'm gonna

35:54.515 --> 35:56.681
talk about the industrial base and and

35:56.681 --> 35:58.848
the workforce because we all have been

35:58.848 --> 36:01.060
focused on this for years and it's

36:01.060 --> 36:03.219
certainly something that is of great

36:03.219 --> 36:05.419
concern , especially with that 30 year

36:05.419 --> 36:07.580
plan coming out that we are going to

36:07.580 --> 36:10.060
accelerate what we already were

36:10.060 --> 36:12.590
planning for and put it on steroids .

36:12.939 --> 36:15.580
The plan certainly calls for that , so .

36:16.030 --> 36:19.129
As part of the , the , the recent March

36:19.129 --> 36:22.909
4th GAO report talked about military

36:22.909 --> 36:25.590
readiness , uh , to take further action

36:25.590 --> 36:28.510
addressing the challenges across sea ,

36:28.629 --> 36:31.110
air , ground , space domains . In the

36:31.110 --> 36:33.332
report , it talks about the constraints

36:33.332 --> 36:35.332
of our shipyards . Everything we've

36:35.332 --> 36:37.443
talked about result in the idle times

36:37.443 --> 36:41.399
for submarines and dry docks and the

36:41.590 --> 36:44.229
cascading readiness issues that

36:44.229 --> 36:47.889
continue to happen . So in what's your

36:47.889 --> 36:51.090
office plan , um , to integrate these

36:51.090 --> 36:53.729
findings with the recommendations from

36:53.729 --> 36:56.689
GAO to the shipyard infrastructure

36:56.689 --> 36:59.949
optimization plan and then put on top

36:59.949 --> 37:02.290
of it what we just spoke about

37:02.290 --> 37:05.310
increasing the tempo almost by

37:05.409 --> 37:07.810
75% . How the hell are you gonna do

37:07.810 --> 37:11.649
this without significantly increasing

37:11.649 --> 37:15.330
the shipyards ? Uh ,

37:15.449 --> 37:17.560
I'll start , Congressman , and , uh ,

37:17.560 --> 37:20.020
again , I appreciate . The focus on

37:20.020 --> 37:21.909
this , this is a priority here is

37:21.909 --> 37:24.360
really expanding in a generational

37:24.620 --> 37:27.659
sense our shipbuilding capacity in the

37:27.659 --> 37:29.659
country and these investments where

37:29.659 --> 37:31.548
we're up 40% over the 26 budget ,

37:31.548 --> 37:34.179
nearly 100% over the 25 budget in terms

37:34.179 --> 37:35.939
of the amount of funding being

37:35.939 --> 37:38.272
requested for shipbuilding . So there's .

37:38.810 --> 37:40.754
There's no single answer . I think

37:40.754 --> 37:42.810
we're trying , we're trying to raise

37:42.810 --> 37:44.588
wages at all of our shipyards ,

37:44.588 --> 37:44.530
including the public shipyards , and

37:44.530 --> 37:46.489
we're , as , um , ranking member

37:46.489 --> 37:48.656
Courtney said , we're seeing results ,

37:48.656 --> 37:51.110
uh , in the submarine yards already and

37:51.370 --> 37:53.592
investing in these shipyards themselves

37:53.592 --> 37:55.648
and their infrastructure and working

37:55.648 --> 37:57.703
with the companies to do that . Um ,

37:57.703 --> 38:00.250
and that includes technology and , and

38:00.250 --> 38:02.417
computer-aided design , computer-aided

38:02.417 --> 38:04.528
manufacturing , and , and those sorts

38:04.528 --> 38:06.139
of things . Distributing the

38:06.139 --> 38:08.083
shipbuilding and , uh , around the

38:08.083 --> 38:10.139
country . So we have focus factories

38:10.139 --> 38:12.194
that are producing the equivalent of

38:12.194 --> 38:14.417
half a Virginia class submarine today .

38:14.417 --> 38:16.639
It's , and so , so that we're , we're ,

38:16.639 --> 38:18.583
we're pulling all the levers and I

38:18.583 --> 38:20.806
think on the , the public shipyards and

38:20.806 --> 38:22.639
the psyop plan , each of those 4

38:22.639 --> 38:24.790
shipyards has a master plan now that

38:24.979 --> 38:26.812
tells us kind of what we need to

38:26.812 --> 38:29.035
execute every single year to accomplish

38:29.035 --> 38:31.090
the dry dock , uh , recapitalization

38:31.090 --> 38:33.312
and the other projects in each of those

38:33.312 --> 38:35.479
yards , and we're committed to funding

38:35.479 --> 38:37.423
that . So I , we're , we're really

38:37.423 --> 38:39.257
trying to have a detailed , um ,

38:39.257 --> 38:41.201
focused approach on where the root

38:41.201 --> 38:43.201
causes are , uh , and with the goal

38:43.201 --> 38:44.812
here of really expanding and

38:44.812 --> 38:47.090
revitalizing , uh , the whole industry .

38:47.090 --> 38:50.389
So . We saw what happened in the

38:50.389 --> 38:52.556
beginning of the Second World War . We

38:52.556 --> 38:55.739
had . An incredibly low producing

38:55.739 --> 38:58.590
shipbuilding . Capacity here in the US

38:59.169 --> 39:01.391
we got hit in Pearl Harbor and within 2

39:01.391 --> 39:03.649
years we're pumping out a ship every

39:03.649 --> 39:07.570
week to every day to reinvest here in

39:07.570 --> 39:10.250
America . Um , when we had secretary in

39:10.250 --> 39:12.649
last week I talked about the idea is

39:12.649 --> 39:15.169
you're sending the demand signals that

39:15.169 --> 39:17.280
everybody talks about and then in the

39:17.280 --> 39:19.649
30 year shipbuilding plan you open the

39:19.649 --> 39:22.169
door for sending our some of our

39:22.169 --> 39:26.120
shipbuilding capacity overseas . Yes ,

39:26.439 --> 39:29.000
taking what we did last time , which

39:29.000 --> 39:31.520
was our mistake , is offshoring our

39:31.520 --> 39:33.687
ability to build and you've opened the

39:33.687 --> 39:36.899
door are your plans now because to

39:37.479 --> 39:39.646
complete the plan that you've laid out

39:39.646 --> 39:42.560
for us , you need to significantly

39:42.560 --> 39:44.699
increase in the United States

39:44.919 --> 39:47.639
shipbuilding capacity yet it talks

39:47.639 --> 39:50.530
about . Increasing the capacity of

39:50.530 --> 39:52.489
shipyards on the other side of the

39:52.489 --> 39:54.656
ocean , can you address whether you're

39:54.656 --> 39:57.050
going to outsource significant portion

39:57.050 --> 39:59.370
of the shipbuilding overseas ?

40:00.610 --> 40:02.888
Congressman , the answer to that is no .

40:02.888 --> 40:05.810
What we view this as is the shipyards

40:05.810 --> 40:07.866
that we have here are largely full ,

40:07.866 --> 40:09.643
and in most of our shipbuilding

40:09.643 --> 40:11.643
programs in the budget , you'll see

40:11.643 --> 40:13.810
there's delays compared to last year .

40:13.810 --> 40:16.032
We're still seeing scheduled delays and

40:16.032 --> 40:18.254
we're seeing challenges with the 7 or 8

40:18.254 --> 40:20.199
large shipyards we have that build

40:20.199 --> 40:22.088
ships for the Navy , uh , kind of

40:22.088 --> 40:24.199
keeping up with the orders that we've

40:24.199 --> 40:25.977
placed . So the overseas , uh ,

40:25.977 --> 40:28.032
component that's talked about in the

40:28.032 --> 40:30.143
shipbuilding plan . is similar to the

40:30.143 --> 40:32.366
icebreaker collaboration effort , which

40:32.366 --> 40:35.290
would be a near a short term means to

40:35.290 --> 40:38.610
an end of orders overseas with the

40:38.610 --> 40:40.832
requirement that the investment be made

40:40.832 --> 40:42.489
here to build and expand our

40:42.489 --> 40:44.770
shipbuilding industrial base here . And

40:44.770 --> 40:47.570
so that the same approach essentially

40:47.570 --> 40:49.850
that was used with ICE Pack is how

40:49.850 --> 40:51.850
we're trying to grow the industrial

40:51.850 --> 40:53.850
base here and it wouldn't take away

40:53.850 --> 40:56.017
from any of our current shipbuilding .

40:56.017 --> 40:58.017
ICE PAC is under a different set of

40:58.017 --> 41:00.072
rules for shipbuilding overseas . In

41:00.072 --> 41:02.294
the Navy we don't do that . We actually

41:02.294 --> 41:04.406
invested here in America during World

41:04.406 --> 41:06.517
War II and that's the way to get us .

41:06.517 --> 41:08.739
Back with a yield bounce of my time . I

41:08.739 --> 41:10.739
thank the gentleman I now recognize

41:10.739 --> 41:12.517
Doctor DesJarlais . Thank you ,

41:12.517 --> 41:14.628
Chairman . Uh , Admiral Benning , can

41:14.628 --> 41:16.350
you expand on the Golden Fleet

41:16.350 --> 41:18.572
initiative and when you look to combine

41:18.572 --> 41:20.794
these high , low mixed platforms , what

41:20.794 --> 41:22.906
trade-offs do you consider acceptable

41:22.906 --> 41:22.834
and what metrics or scales are you

41:22.834 --> 41:25.024
using to evaluate or mitigate those

41:25.024 --> 41:28.830
risks ? Uh , from the high low

41:28.830 --> 41:30.719
mix perspective , we've obviously

41:30.719 --> 41:32.886
discussed the battleship here . That's

41:32.886 --> 41:35.052
certainly on the high end , that the ,

41:35.052 --> 41:36.774
uh , current DDG , kind of the

41:36.774 --> 41:36.699
workhorse of the fleet is also on the

41:36.699 --> 41:38.810
high end . What we're looking at also

41:38.810 --> 41:40.977
though is , is on the low end , you're

41:40.977 --> 41:42.866
talking about the frigate , which

41:42.866 --> 41:45.088
brings some organic capability and it's

41:45.088 --> 41:47.939
also , uh , a C2 node , an unmanned RAS

41:47.939 --> 41:49.828
capability , a robotic autonomous

41:49.828 --> 41:51.550
system capability . So with an

41:51.550 --> 41:53.850
uncoupled with a , Unmanned capability

41:53.850 --> 41:55.961
and what we're investing in and , and

41:55.961 --> 41:57.628
prioritizing is containerized

41:57.628 --> 41:59.989
capability . When you put those on the

41:59.989 --> 42:01.840
medium USB , they give you the

42:01.840 --> 42:03.673
opportunity to tailor your force

42:03.673 --> 42:05.673
package for the mission that you've

42:05.673 --> 42:07.840
been tasked to go do or for the threat

42:07.840 --> 42:09.896
environment that is there . You also

42:09.896 --> 42:09.889
are able to supplement the organic

42:09.889 --> 42:12.167
capability of a lower-end frigate with ,

42:12.167 --> 42:13.833
uh , with additional unmanned

42:13.833 --> 42:15.679
capability . By doing that , the

42:15.679 --> 42:17.457
frigate and , uh , the unmanned

42:17.457 --> 42:19.530
capability helps relieve some of the

42:19.530 --> 42:21.252
stress on the , on the current

42:21.252 --> 42:23.363
workhorse being the DDG and allows it

42:23.363 --> 42:25.474
to focus on , uh , the high-end fight

42:25.474 --> 42:27.419
and , uh , stay for readiness . So

42:27.419 --> 42:29.308
that's kind of the approach we're

42:29.308 --> 42:31.419
taking there . OK , Mr . Potter , the

42:31.419 --> 42:33.586
development and production of both the

42:33.586 --> 42:33.090
exquisite and lower cost scalable

42:33.090 --> 42:34.868
platforms will require a robust

42:34.868 --> 42:36.923
industrial base , as you know . What

42:36.923 --> 42:38.812
pinch points are you anticipating

42:38.812 --> 42:40.923
through the production of development

42:40.923 --> 42:40.500
of the Golden Fleet concept ?

42:43.639 --> 42:45.861
Congressman , uh , there'll be probably

42:45.861 --> 42:48.028
different pinch points than we're used

42:48.028 --> 42:50.028
to because what we're seeing is new

42:50.028 --> 42:51.972
entrants , um , with many of these

42:51.972 --> 42:54.139
types of platforms that , uh , are new

42:54.139 --> 42:56.472
to the Navy , particularly the unmanned ,

42:56.472 --> 42:58.583
um , vessel providers . And so , um ,

42:58.600 --> 43:00.590
we think there's a lot of , uh ,

43:00.600 --> 43:02.378
capability there . We had a , a

43:02.378 --> 43:04.780
phenomenal response to our first

43:05.000 --> 43:06.833
solicitation for medium unmanned

43:06.833 --> 43:09.056
surface vessels , uh , and so that is ,

43:09.056 --> 43:11.389
uh . You know , a key outlet for some

43:11.389 --> 43:13.611
of the supply chain issues we're seeing

43:13.611 --> 43:15.778
is tapping into a new one . I think we

43:15.778 --> 43:18.139
do have some of the traditional , uh ,

43:18.149 --> 43:20.429
challenges within shipbuilding , uh ,

43:20.550 --> 43:22.272
where we're using the maritime

43:22.272 --> 43:23.717
industrial base and other

43:23.717 --> 43:25.661
industrial-based tools to focus on

43:25.661 --> 43:27.494
suppliers , and we've got better

43:27.494 --> 43:29.606
visibility than we've ever had before

43:29.606 --> 43:31.606
down the supply chain , where we're

43:31.606 --> 43:33.717
having bottlenecks and choke points ,

43:33.717 --> 43:35.439
and we've got , uh , resources

43:35.439 --> 43:37.389
available to address those . OK .

43:38.350 --> 43:40.294
Moving to submarine tenders , Mr .

43:40.294 --> 43:42.239
Potter , as we consider the Navy's

43:42.239 --> 43:44.406
needs , the increased force posture in

43:44.406 --> 43:46.628
operation around the globe , it becomes

43:46.628 --> 43:48.850
clear how important the next generation

43:48.850 --> 43:51.017
submarine tender program is to sustain

43:51.017 --> 43:52.794
force readiness and maintenance

43:52.794 --> 43:54.739
capacity . Uh , when do you expect

43:54.739 --> 43:56.239
those ships to be online ?

43:59.199 --> 44:01.255
Uh , Congressman , I think those are

44:01.255 --> 44:03.199
probably going to be online in the

44:03.199 --> 44:06.270
early 2030s , realistically . So you're

44:06.270 --> 44:08.326
not expecting that there will be any

44:08.326 --> 44:10.548
delays on those ships being delivered ,

44:10.548 --> 44:12.659
and if so , do you believe that there

44:12.659 --> 44:12.649
can be appropriate service life

44:12.949 --> 44:14.979
extensions made to the Emory Sland

44:14.979 --> 44:18.179
class tenders ? You know , we're

44:18.179 --> 44:20.235
continually assessing , uh , service

44:20.235 --> 44:22.419
life extensions for all of our ships

44:22.419 --> 44:24.308
and , uh , MAS land and the , the

44:24.308 --> 44:26.889
tenders are no exception . We're really

44:26.889 --> 44:29.000
focused on finishing the design right

44:29.000 --> 44:31.111
now with General Dynamics and getting

44:31.111 --> 44:32.667
the first ship , uh , under

44:32.667 --> 44:34.889
construction . And , uh , we've had a ,

44:35.040 --> 44:37.262
a good process here to work through the

44:37.262 --> 44:39.484
requirements . Uh , it's the first time

44:39.484 --> 44:41.651
we've built a subtender in a while and

44:41.651 --> 44:43.873
kind of making sure it's gonna have the

44:43.873 --> 44:46.040
maintenance capability to maintain our

44:46.040 --> 44:48.096
latest Virginia class submarines and

44:48.096 --> 44:50.318
the quantities , uh , you know , took ,

44:50.318 --> 44:52.540
took a , you know , measure twice , cut

44:52.540 --> 44:54.762
once approach over the last few years .

44:54.762 --> 44:56.762
So I think we're there . We need to

44:56.762 --> 44:55.800
finish the design and get into

44:55.800 --> 44:57.967
construction . Sounds good . Thank you

44:57.967 --> 45:00.189
all for being here , Chairman . I yield

45:00.189 --> 45:02.133
back . Now recognize Mr . Benman .

45:02.133 --> 45:04.244
Thank you , Chairman and thank you to

45:04.244 --> 45:06.411
the witnesses for appearing today . So

45:06.411 --> 45:08.467
I have the privilege of representing

45:08.467 --> 45:10.744
three different military installations ,

45:10.744 --> 45:12.856
um , Quantico , the Crossroads of the

45:12.856 --> 45:15.078
Marine Corps , Dahlgren , uh , which is

45:15.078 --> 45:18.320
a , a gem of a , a Navy R&D base . And

45:18.320 --> 45:20.487
so let me start with , with Dahlgren .

45:20.487 --> 45:22.431
There's a tremendous amount of R&D

45:22.431 --> 45:24.653
that's taking place there , and there's

45:24.653 --> 45:26.376
some subsystems that are being

45:26.376 --> 45:28.264
developed , including high energy

45:28.264 --> 45:30.264
lasers that were for a little while

45:30.264 --> 45:29.889
they were mothballed , but now are

45:29.889 --> 45:32.530
being brought back , um , to help in

45:32.530 --> 45:34.863
the , the fight in the Middle East . Uh ,

45:34.863 --> 45:36.863
they're akin to some of the systems

45:36.863 --> 45:38.919
that the Israelis are deploying like

45:38.919 --> 45:40.863
iron , uh , beam , so I just wanna

45:40.863 --> 45:42.919
encourage you to continue to support

45:42.919 --> 45:44.919
those systems , the tremendous work

45:44.919 --> 45:47.379
that's being done at Dahlgren , and to

45:47.379 --> 45:49.750
feel the sort of next generation , uh ,

45:49.919 --> 45:52.030
technology that is coming out of that

45:52.030 --> 45:54.086
installation . Uh , General Austin ,

45:54.129 --> 45:56.351
great to see you here , whether it's on

45:56.351 --> 45:58.649
the hill or , or at Quantico . Um , so

45:58.649 --> 46:00.593
Ukraine has been developing , uh ,

46:00.593 --> 46:02.538
something of a live laboratory for

46:02.538 --> 46:04.205
unmanned systems in contested

46:04.205 --> 46:06.149
environments . Is the Marine Corps

46:06.149 --> 46:08.316
finding ways to learn from what , um ,

46:08.316 --> 46:10.538
the Ukrainians have developed and field

46:10.538 --> 46:12.649
tested there ? And , uh , what are we

46:12.649 --> 46:14.482
doing to capture those lessons ?

46:15.879 --> 46:17.990
Congressman , it's good to see you as

46:17.990 --> 46:20.046
well , sir , and thank you for the ,

46:20.046 --> 46:20.030
the question . Uh , we absolutely are

46:20.030 --> 46:21.863
closely following , uh , all the

46:21.863 --> 46:24.086
activities going on in many theaters to

46:24.086 --> 46:26.308
include the , the Ukraine and capturing

46:26.308 --> 46:28.308
those via deliberate , uh , process

46:28.308 --> 46:27.979
through our Marine Corps Center for

46:27.979 --> 46:30.257
Lessons Learned , but more importantly ,

46:30.257 --> 46:30.189
turning that into our own

46:30.189 --> 46:32.189
experimentation and our own lessons

46:32.189 --> 46:34.245
learned , uh , with both , uh , uh ,

46:34.245 --> 46:36.411
our drone dominance task force , which

46:36.411 --> 46:38.356
nests within the Department of War

46:38.356 --> 46:40.578
drone dominance Task Force , uh , which

46:40.578 --> 46:40.280
you've witnessed yourself and down

46:40.280 --> 46:42.280
looking at some of our attack drone

46:42.280 --> 46:44.391
capabilities and the like , which has

46:44.391 --> 46:46.613
got both a Fielding and you know mil PF

46:46.613 --> 46:48.613
lessons that we're learning and the

46:48.613 --> 46:50.613
tactics , techniques and procedures

46:50.613 --> 46:50.310
that we're employing and I'll pivot the

46:50.310 --> 46:52.421
other thing that we're learning a lot

46:52.421 --> 46:54.588
about right now and we've got a lot of

46:54.588 --> 46:56.366
investments in is counter drone

46:56.366 --> 46:58.532
technologies both in terms of material

46:58.532 --> 47:00.699
solutions and the tactics , techniques

47:00.699 --> 47:02.866
and procedures that we need for all of

47:02.866 --> 47:04.977
our marines and sailors to survive in

47:04.977 --> 47:07.143
today's battlefield . There's a lot to

47:07.143 --> 47:07.110
learn and we're getting after it , sir .

47:07.570 --> 47:09.570
I appreciate that and it's great to

47:09.570 --> 47:11.737
hear that the Marine Corps is learning

47:11.737 --> 47:14.919
uh from uh the the . Environment in

47:14.919 --> 47:16.697
Ukraine and that we're not just

47:16.697 --> 47:19.719
starting at uh FPV drones sort of like

47:19.719 --> 47:22.760
level one basic but advancing rapidly

47:22.760 --> 47:24.760
to where the Ukrainians are now and

47:24.760 --> 47:28.600
having fielded in depth and and uh . So

47:28.600 --> 47:31.479
the Marine Corps initiated summits to

47:31.479 --> 47:34.040
accelerate drone lethality , which is a

47:34.040 --> 47:36.262
great program . Are there opportunities

47:36.262 --> 47:38.151
to deepen that work by partnering

47:38.151 --> 47:40.318
directly with Ukrainian forces who are

47:40.318 --> 47:42.318
operating drones at scale every day

47:42.318 --> 47:45.659
against near para adversaries ? So the

47:45.659 --> 47:47.715
short answer to that is absolutely .

47:47.860 --> 47:50.082
When we have the opportunities , I will

47:50.082 --> 47:52.304
tell you that one of the things that is

47:52.304 --> 47:51.620
a big success for the Marine Corps in

47:51.620 --> 47:53.676
the last 12 months , we have fielded

47:53.676 --> 47:55.787
thousands of drones , attack drones ,

47:55.787 --> 47:57.620
and we've gotten into all of our

47:57.620 --> 47:59.564
infantry battalions , our training

47:59.564 --> 47:59.439
establishment , and our installations ,

47:59.979 --> 48:01.757
which has enabled us to learn a

48:01.757 --> 48:03.812
tremendous amount and not just about

48:03.812 --> 48:05.757
how to operate a drone , but about

48:05.757 --> 48:07.923
spectrum , about survivability , about

48:07.923 --> 48:10.146
different capabilities that they use to

48:10.146 --> 48:12.201
guide them , things that you're well

48:12.201 --> 48:12.110
aware of . and we're getting after it ,

48:12.149 --> 48:14.371
but we're eager to continue to learn in

48:14.371 --> 48:16.593
that capacity hopefully that that helps

48:16.593 --> 48:18.649
her . OK . And when we talk about uh

48:18.649 --> 48:20.760
co-production technology sharing with

48:20.760 --> 48:22.927
allied defense industries , is Ukraine

48:22.927 --> 48:26.719
one of those , um . Uh , allies that we

48:26.719 --> 48:28.886
should be looking at more closely both

48:28.886 --> 48:31.108
to help them and to bring manufacturing

48:31.108 --> 48:32.997
capacity and know-how back to the

48:32.997 --> 48:35.219
United States , you know , open that up

48:35.219 --> 48:37.340
to . Congressman , I , I think the

48:37.340 --> 48:39.507
answer is yes . We're always looking ,

48:39.507 --> 48:41.618
uh , you know , at all our allies and

48:41.618 --> 48:43.673
partners for the best technology and

48:43.673 --> 48:43.060
the best capability to give our sailors

48:43.060 --> 48:46.050
and marines the , the edge , and , uh ,

48:46.100 --> 48:48.100
there are active , uh , discussions

48:48.100 --> 48:50.267
along those lines . So how can we help

48:50.267 --> 48:52.044
you with any of these efforts ?

48:54.129 --> 48:56.820
Authorities or there's always a need

48:56.820 --> 48:59.042
for funding , but any , anything we can

48:59.042 --> 49:01.320
do to help you with those efforts , uh ,

49:01.320 --> 49:03.487
um , sir , so I'd say , you let us get

49:03.487 --> 49:05.709
back to you on that . I think we have a

49:05.709 --> 49:07.931
lot of the authority we need . I've not

49:07.931 --> 49:10.042
run into an issue yet , um , where we

49:10.042 --> 49:09.939
haven't been able to move forward if we

49:09.939 --> 49:12.161
felt like we had the , you know , the ,

49:12.161 --> 49:15.679
the readiness to do so . So I think at

49:15.679 --> 49:17.957
this point we're , we're in good shape .

49:17.957 --> 49:20.179
Yep , look forward to hearing that from

49:20.179 --> 49:23.010
you . Um , so outside of funding

49:23.010 --> 49:25.232
procurement , what's the most impactful

49:25.232 --> 49:27.454
change that Congress and this committee

49:27.454 --> 49:27.370
could do to help the Marine Corps

49:27.370 --> 49:29.370
accelerate the adoption of unmanned

49:29.370 --> 49:32.790
systems ? Sir , I would just continue

49:32.790 --> 49:34.901
to support our acquisition reform and

49:34.901 --> 49:37.123
the opportunities for us to move fast .

49:37.123 --> 49:39.290
Uh , the accelerant and the enthusiasm

49:39.290 --> 49:41.389
that's coming from the White House ,

49:41.429 --> 49:43.596
from the Capitol , from the Department

49:43.596 --> 49:45.429
of War is all palpable . It's an

49:45.429 --> 49:47.596
exciting time to be in the acquisition

49:47.596 --> 49:49.651
field , and we're moving out , so we

49:49.651 --> 49:51.540
just would ask for your continued

49:51.540 --> 49:50.989
support on that . We're going to learn ,

49:51.110 --> 49:53.221
there will be bumps and bruises , and

49:53.221 --> 49:55.388
we're going to continue to learn , but

49:55.388 --> 49:57.554
we have a mandate to go fast . And the

49:57.554 --> 49:59.610
permission structure to to fail fast

49:59.610 --> 50:01.777
and if you fail that we can underwrite

50:01.777 --> 50:03.721
that risk so thank you with that I

50:03.721 --> 50:05.888
yield back . Good timing now recognize

50:05.888 --> 50:07.777
Doctor Jackson . Thank you , Mr .

50:07.777 --> 50:09.832
Chairman . Thank you , gentlemen for

50:09.832 --> 50:09.500
being here today . Appreciate your time .

50:10.169 --> 50:12.113
Um , as global threats continue to

50:12.113 --> 50:14.169
evolve , our naval and expeditionary

50:14.169 --> 50:16.280
forces remain central to the nation's

50:16.280 --> 50:18.225
ability to deter aggression and uh

50:18.225 --> 50:20.447
project combat power around the world .

50:20.447 --> 50:22.391
Uh , today , the Navy Marine Corps

50:22.391 --> 50:22.300
being asked to sustain a persistent

50:22.300 --> 50:24.133
forward presence across multiple

50:24.133 --> 50:25.800
theaters while simultaneously

50:25.800 --> 50:28.022
modernizing for future conflict against

50:28.022 --> 50:30.250
increasingly capable adversaries . As a

50:30.250 --> 50:32.472
retired Navy veteran , I understand the

50:32.472 --> 50:34.694
vital importance of maintaining a force

50:34.694 --> 50:36.528
that is not only technologically

50:36.528 --> 50:38.639
advanced but also fully sustained and

50:38.639 --> 50:40.472
ready to respond to the emerging

50:40.472 --> 50:42.583
requirements of the future fight . In

50:42.583 --> 50:44.806
recent years we have seen a significant

50:44.806 --> 50:46.861
rise in suspected sabotage of subsea

50:46.861 --> 50:49.028
cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea

50:49.028 --> 50:51.250
and now the Straits of Hormuz , raising

50:51.250 --> 50:53.194
concerns about attacks on critical

50:53.194 --> 50:55.083
infrastructure . Unmanned surface

50:55.083 --> 50:57.083
vessels offering persistent ISR and

50:57.083 --> 50:59.250
detection capabilities are emerging as

50:59.250 --> 51:01.306
a key tool for safeguarding undersea

51:01.306 --> 51:03.139
cables and other critical subsea

51:03.139 --> 51:05.361
infrastructure from sabotage and hybrid

51:05.361 --> 51:07.472
threats from foreign adversaries like

51:07.472 --> 51:07.110
China , Russia in particular , and Iran .

51:08.030 --> 51:09.919
To counter these growing maritime

51:09.919 --> 51:11.530
threats and address critical

51:11.530 --> 51:11.280
vulnerabilities in our defense

51:11.280 --> 51:13.502
industrial base , I believe the US must

51:13.502 --> 51:15.760
rapidly scale domestic production of

51:15.760 --> 51:19.070
unmanned surface vessels . Uh , Mr .

51:19.110 --> 51:21.332
Potter , what is your assessment of our

51:21.332 --> 51:23.830
domestic capacity to scale USV

51:23.830 --> 51:25.941
production ? Furthermore , how is the

51:25.941 --> 51:27.790
department establishing a robust

51:27.790 --> 51:30.250
network of qualified US-based suppliers

51:30.469 --> 51:32.429
to meet this need , and how can

51:32.429 --> 51:34.651
Congress best support this effort ? And

51:34.651 --> 51:36.818
part of the reason I ask this question

51:36.818 --> 51:38.873
is because , uh , oftentimes we talk

51:38.873 --> 51:40.929
about shipbuilding , uh , one of the

51:40.929 --> 51:43.151
issues is . The , uh , that we cannot ,

51:43.151 --> 51:42.635
uh , that we , we may have to do stuff

51:42.635 --> 51:44.635
elsewhere besides the United States

51:44.635 --> 51:46.857
because the size of our shipyards and ,

51:46.857 --> 51:48.579
uh , the capacity to , uh , to

51:48.579 --> 51:50.875
manufacture large ships , but it's also

51:50.875 --> 51:52.875
been pointed out to me that we , we

51:52.875 --> 51:54.931
have a , uh , capacity that's , uh ,

51:54.931 --> 51:56.931
that's existing potentially to , to

51:56.931 --> 51:58.986
build some of these unmanned vessels

51:58.986 --> 52:01.153
here . So , uh , with that , with that

52:01.153 --> 52:00.725
in mind , can you answer my question ?

52:01.185 --> 52:03.296
Yes sir , Congressman . So if for the

52:03.296 --> 52:05.949
first time , I think in You know , the

52:05.949 --> 52:08.020
first time we've got the 4 tools we

52:08.020 --> 52:10.076
need to really move fast on unmanned

52:10.076 --> 52:12.242
service vessels . That's the funding .

52:12.242 --> 52:14.353
Thanks to one big beautiful bill , we

52:14.353 --> 52:14.179
have more than $2 billion . We have the

52:14.179 --> 52:16.110
acquisition tools , like other

52:16.110 --> 52:17.888
transaction authority that this

52:17.888 --> 52:19.943
committee has given us . We have the

52:19.943 --> 52:21.999
performers that are ready to do it ,

52:21.999 --> 52:24.110
and we have the requirements from the

52:24.110 --> 52:26.221
operational field , uh , that we need

52:26.221 --> 52:28.110
to get after . So with the medium

52:28.110 --> 52:30.332
unmanned surface vessel , that's really

52:30.332 --> 52:32.443
the first , uh , move that we've made

52:32.443 --> 52:34.332
to do things differently , and we

52:34.332 --> 52:36.277
released a solicitation based on a

52:36.277 --> 52:38.499
Chief of Naval Operations , uh , urgent

52:38.499 --> 52:40.721
requirement , uh , to , to field , um ,

52:40.721 --> 52:42.721
30 of these medium unmanned surface

52:42.721 --> 52:44.888
vessels with a containerized payload .

52:44.949 --> 52:47.459
And we've got an overwhelming response .

52:47.560 --> 52:49.727
So I , we know the industry is there .

52:49.727 --> 52:51.838
This is a competitive market , and we

52:51.838 --> 52:53.782
had , you know , more than 2 dozen

52:53.782 --> 52:55.838
offers , which is unheard of in Navy

52:55.838 --> 52:57.949
shipbuilding . And so from that we're

52:57.949 --> 52:59.838
now in source selection and we're

52:59.838 --> 53:02.060
working through , you know , which is a

53:02.060 --> 53:01.800
good problem to have , you know , the

53:01.800 --> 53:03.856
best , uh , and most capable to meet

53:03.856 --> 53:05.856
the CNO's requirements . That's the

53:05.856 --> 53:08.022
model we're going to use over and over

53:08.022 --> 53:10.133
again to solve more and more of these

53:10.133 --> 53:12.022
problems , undersea cables , uh ,

53:12.022 --> 53:13.800
offensive missions , you know ,

53:13.800 --> 53:16.133
contested logistics . We think unmanned ,

53:16.133 --> 53:18.244
it's , there's a , a huge opportunity

53:18.244 --> 53:17.750
here . We have a whole another

53:17.750 --> 53:19.917
industrial base we're able to tap into

53:19.917 --> 53:22.083
to get after it , and , um , we have a

53:22.083 --> 53:23.972
model to do it . And on the . The

53:23.972 --> 53:26.028
cables , we've got , um , you know ,

53:26.028 --> 53:28.083
established programs in particularly

53:28.083 --> 53:30.139
for mine , uh , countermeasures that

53:30.139 --> 53:32.250
are looking for , uh , buried mines ,

53:32.250 --> 53:34.417
bottom mines , things on the sea floor

53:34.417 --> 53:36.639
with synthetic aperture sonars that are

53:36.639 --> 53:39.439
on our Mark 18 , um , UUVs . So between

53:39.439 --> 53:41.272
unmanned underwater . Vehicles ,

53:41.272 --> 53:43.272
unmanned surface vessels , uh , the

53:43.272 --> 53:45.439
navy's been in this game a while , and

53:45.439 --> 53:47.439
even at a classified level , we can

53:47.439 --> 53:47.284
give you kind of a full picture of that .

53:47.485 --> 53:49.596
But you agree this is an area where ,

53:49.596 --> 53:51.818
unlike the larger vessels , we have the

53:51.818 --> 53:51.665
capacity to do almost all of that here

53:51.665 --> 53:53.721
and do it at scale if we just , uh ,

53:53.725 --> 53:55.725
invest . Yes sir . OK , thank you .

53:55.725 --> 53:57.781
With that you go back , Mr . Chair .

53:57.781 --> 53:59.947
Now I can ask myself for . Thank you ,

53:59.947 --> 54:02.114
Mr . Chair . Gentlemen , thank you for

54:02.114 --> 54:04.225
being here . Um , Mr . Potter , I , I

54:04.225 --> 54:04.100
think you're gonna find everybody on

54:04.100 --> 54:06.290
this subcommittee is , is all in for

54:06.290 --> 54:08.346
supercharging the industrial base to

54:08.346 --> 54:10.457
meet our shipbuilding and maintenance

54:10.457 --> 54:12.679
needs . Uh , I would love to invite you

54:12.679 --> 54:14.846
to , to my district . Uh , I represent

54:14.846 --> 54:17.189
neither any , any of your , your , uh ,

54:17.290 --> 54:19.179
installations , but Coast Guard ,

54:19.179 --> 54:21.068
you're Baltimore , which , uh , a

54:21.068 --> 54:23.290
130-year history of doing all , all the

54:23.290 --> 54:25.346
things I think we need done here . I

54:25.346 --> 54:27.457
mentioned that because in last year's

54:27.457 --> 54:29.568
NDEA we were , we were able to , to ,

54:29.568 --> 54:31.734
Uh , set up the , the hopeful transfer

54:31.734 --> 54:33.679
of about 435 acres just across the

54:33.679 --> 54:35.939
creek from that yard , former Army

54:35.939 --> 54:38.149
Depot , um , to our state's Academic

54:38.149 --> 54:40.316
Development Corporation with this very

54:40.316 --> 54:42.979
kind of adventure in mind . So I would

54:42.979 --> 54:44.979
love to invite you . You out to see

54:44.979 --> 54:47.035
that eventually and see how that can

54:47.035 --> 54:49.257
possibly fit into all of this . I think

54:49.257 --> 54:51.368
it meets all the needs we have here ,

54:51.368 --> 54:53.479
industrial zone , you know , right on

54:53.479 --> 54:55.312
the water , uh , future dredging

54:55.312 --> 54:57.646
project right there . So I just want to ,

54:57.646 --> 54:57.205
I want to put that on your radar and

54:57.205 --> 54:59.372
invite you to have that conversation .

54:59.372 --> 55:01.538
I do want to move to follow up on Mr .

55:01.538 --> 55:03.695
Norcross's questioning , and , and ,

55:03.774 --> 55:06.052
and he has a , an excellent point here .

55:06.125 --> 55:08.314
You guys are asking us to trust you .

55:08.669 --> 55:11.350
That in order to kickstart this , you

55:11.350 --> 55:13.517
know , revamped effort , we don't have

55:13.517 --> 55:15.461
the capacity at the moment . We're

55:15.461 --> 55:17.239
going to look to our allies and

55:17.239 --> 55:19.350
partners who frankly , have spent the

55:19.350 --> 55:21.628
last century kicking our butts at this ,

55:21.628 --> 55:23.794
but you're asking us to trust you that

55:23.794 --> 55:25.906
we're going to reshore those projects

55:25.906 --> 55:27.961
eventually . So I , I , I asked this

55:27.961 --> 55:30.183
question of , of Second Ave last week ,

55:30.183 --> 55:29.550
but I I would love your thoughts on

55:29.550 --> 55:32.419
that . How You know , our , our job is

55:32.419 --> 55:34.586
to trust but verify . So how would you

55:34.586 --> 55:37.229
advise us to holding your feet to the

55:37.229 --> 55:40.110
fire that those jobs are going to come

55:40.110 --> 55:42.166
back and we're not going to sit here

55:42.166 --> 55:44.221
two or three years from now and hear

55:44.221 --> 55:46.388
how we still don't have the capacity .

55:46.388 --> 55:46.100
We're gonna need to build more ships

55:46.100 --> 55:48.209
abroad . How would you advise us ,

55:49.179 --> 55:51.346
Congresswoman , thank you . And , uh ,

55:51.346 --> 55:53.457
I have actually spent 4 years in your

55:53.457 --> 55:55.512
district , and they were , uh , 4 of

55:55.512 --> 55:57.735
the best years of my life , um , at the

55:57.735 --> 55:57.500
Naval Academy , and , uh , we will

55:57.500 --> 55:59.722
absolutely visit Baltimore , and I look

55:59.722 --> 56:01.722
forward to that . Thank you for the

56:01.722 --> 56:03.790
invitation . On the um OK , on the

56:03.790 --> 56:06.012
foreign shipbuilding , I think it it is

56:06.012 --> 56:08.179
fair , you know , how do you trust but

56:08.179 --> 56:10.401
verify , and I think we would welcome ,

56:10.429 --> 56:12.679
you know , that discussion about the ,

56:13.070 --> 56:15.270
the requirements that would come with

56:15.270 --> 56:17.709
that authority to build , you know ,

56:17.790 --> 56:20.012
initially overseas while we're building

56:20.012 --> 56:22.068
the capacity here to do it here . We

56:22.068 --> 56:24.068
see that as a two-part process . We

56:24.068 --> 56:26.068
want those two parts to be linked .

56:26.068 --> 56:28.234
We're not trying to just take jobs and

56:28.234 --> 56:30.649
take them overseas . We do expect . You

56:30.649 --> 56:32.969
know , whatever is done there , a 23 ,

56:33.030 --> 56:35.770
4X , you know , investment here . Uh ,

56:35.879 --> 56:38.510
and I think , you know , well , as , uh ,

56:38.729 --> 56:40.785
as , you know , we have a little bit

56:40.785 --> 56:43.007
more time here to work our proposal and

56:43.007 --> 56:45.229
get it to you in full , uh , we welcome

56:45.229 --> 56:47.173
that conversation . Mr . Chair , I

56:47.173 --> 56:49.118
would just suggest that perhaps we

56:49.118 --> 56:51.285
should think a little bit about how to

56:51.285 --> 56:53.507
actually trust but verify as we go into

56:53.507 --> 56:55.340
markup . Um , I , I also want to

56:55.340 --> 56:57.562
highlight , if you , if you watched the

56:57.562 --> 56:59.451
Sen hearing last week , you heard

56:59.451 --> 57:01.396
bipartisan overwhelming support of

57:01.396 --> 57:04.820
getting to the 3.0 AGMU

57:04.820 --> 57:06.580
presence , and that was really

57:06.580 --> 57:08.858
reassuring . I hope , I hope , General ,

57:08.858 --> 57:11.024
that was reassuring to you . I do want

57:11.024 --> 57:12.858
to though , kind of dig into the

57:12.858 --> 57:14.913
details of , of getting there in the

57:14.913 --> 57:17.136
budget . Um , so General Austin , you ,

57:17.136 --> 57:16.469
in your opening statement , you

57:16.469 --> 57:18.525
discussed the importance of the AMIB

57:18.525 --> 57:20.709
fleet and how you are committed to the

57:20.709 --> 57:24.300
3.0 marker . Uh , but you also

57:24.300 --> 57:26.411
mentioned that how important the LSMs

57:26.411 --> 57:28.411
are to the AMPIB strategy , but I'm

57:28.411 --> 57:30.467
concerned that LSM funding is in the

57:30.467 --> 57:32.780
mandatory portion of the request . Can

57:32.780 --> 57:35.219
you explain how LSMs kind of fit into

57:35.219 --> 57:37.340
the larger AMPIB strategy here ? I

57:37.340 --> 57:39.562
think the devil's in the details of the

57:39.562 --> 57:41.673
budget , and I just want to make sure

57:41.673 --> 57:44.007
we're all aligned . Yes , Congresswoman ,

57:44.007 --> 57:46.173
thank you . Uh , I honestly appreciate

57:46.173 --> 57:48.118
this question and a chance to talk

57:48.118 --> 57:47.580
about LSM . And first , I will tell you

57:47.580 --> 57:50.360
that , uh , LSM is an opportunity for

57:50.360 --> 57:52.471
the Navy , the Marine Corps , and for

57:52.471 --> 57:54.582
the shipbuilding industry and for our

57:54.582 --> 57:56.638
nation right now because we have the

57:56.638 --> 57:56.209
money . We're , uh , in the final

57:56.209 --> 57:58.042
phases of contracting the vessel

57:58.042 --> 58:00.209
construction manager , and we're ready

58:00.209 --> 58:00.209
to move out . And I think this is going

58:00.209 --> 58:02.265
to be a great warm start for many of

58:02.265 --> 58:04.376
the conversations that we're having ,

58:04.376 --> 58:06.598
uh , right now . LSM plays an essential

58:06.598 --> 58:08.598
role , uh , in the littorals , uh ,

58:08.598 --> 58:10.487
principally . For us first in the

58:10.487 --> 58:12.598
Indo-Pacific because it goes shore to

58:12.598 --> 58:14.820
shore , enables us to have the mobility

58:14.820 --> 58:14.669
and maneuver and move forces , small

58:14.669 --> 58:17.340
signature , light footprint in ways and

58:17.340 --> 58:19.669
complement the Marine Air wing which

58:19.669 --> 58:21.947
can move some stuff but not everything .

58:21.947 --> 58:24.113
It's tremendously important and I said

58:24.113 --> 58:26.058
it's late to need . We've got some

58:26.058 --> 58:27.780
opportunities to leverage some

58:27.780 --> 58:30.002
resources that was provided last year .

58:30.300 --> 58:32.078
To have what we call a littoral

58:32.078 --> 58:34.419
maneuver bridging strategy , contract

58:34.419 --> 58:36.620
solutions . We're also using TEPFs in

58:36.620 --> 58:38.953
some cases starting this fall to bridge ,

58:39.179 --> 58:41.379
but those are peer to peer , not beach

58:41.379 --> 58:43.157
to beach , and it's a different

58:43.157 --> 58:45.046
capability . So it's tremendously

58:45.046 --> 58:47.212
important to us , and I would just say

58:47.212 --> 58:49.323
that I do understand that the LSMN 27

58:49.323 --> 58:52.590
is in the mandatory . Bill , uh ,

58:52.969 --> 58:55.025
we consider it from the Marine Corps

58:55.025 --> 58:57.191
perspective one bill , and we need the

58:57.191 --> 58:59.358
whole thing to be successful . Uh , we

58:59.358 --> 59:01.469
are pleased to , to have it , uh , in

59:01.469 --> 59:01.229
the , the budget as submitted now .

59:01.649 --> 59:03.705
Thank you . Thank you , Mr . Chair .

59:03.705 --> 59:06.830
Now recognize Mr . Moreland . Thank you

59:06.830 --> 59:09.120
Mr . Chair . Thanks to the panel . Uh ,

59:09.280 --> 59:11.959
Admiral , Assistant Secretary General ,

59:12.080 --> 59:14.136
thank , thank you very much . You're

59:14.136 --> 59:16.358
all very important , of course , you're

59:16.358 --> 59:18.469
the most forward deployed place there

59:18.469 --> 59:18.360
is . So I , I thank you for your

59:18.360 --> 59:20.527
interest in keeping this going for the

59:20.527 --> 59:22.693
island of Guam . Uh , General , thanks

59:22.693 --> 59:24.749
for your assistance on , uh , during

59:24.749 --> 59:27.229
disaster relief , uh , for Guam . If ,

59:27.639 --> 59:29.750
if you don't mind , just say a little

59:29.750 --> 59:32.000
bit about what , what went on . Thank

59:32.000 --> 59:34.000
you , sir . Just as the 11th MU was

59:34.000 --> 59:36.222
deploying and they left , they deployed

59:36.222 --> 59:38.444
early based on the conditions in CENECO

59:38.444 --> 59:41.340
that the typhoon rolled through in both

59:41.639 --> 59:43.917
Guam and Northern Marianas had damaged ,

59:43.917 --> 59:45.806
and we were honored to be able to

59:45.806 --> 59:47.840
support disaster relief with just

59:47.840 --> 59:50.560
moving critical supplies around both

59:50.560 --> 59:52.782
locations , something we've done before

59:52.782 --> 59:54.616
and we'll do again , and it just

59:54.616 --> 59:56.727
highlights the importance and again .

59:56.727 --> 59:58.949
Uh , multi-purpose applicability , uh ,

59:58.949 --> 01:00:01.004
of the marine expeditionary unit and

01:00:01.004 --> 01:00:00.800
the , uh , amphibious ready group , sir .

01:00:00.879 --> 01:00:02.657
I hope that , uh , that helps .

01:00:02.657 --> 01:00:04.990
Absolutely . God bless the Marines . Uh ,

01:00:05.280 --> 01:00:07.391
in addition , let's talk about , uh ,

01:00:07.391 --> 01:00:09.558
Camp Bloss at this time . How do you ,

01:00:09.558 --> 01:00:11.613
how do you see it coming along and ,

01:00:11.613 --> 01:00:13.502
and with our , uh , the personnel

01:00:13.502 --> 01:00:15.558
relocating to , uh , from Okinawa to

01:00:15.558 --> 01:00:17.558
Guam . Sir , the first thing I will

01:00:17.558 --> 01:00:19.058
tell you is Camp Blaz is a

01:00:19.058 --> 01:00:22.020
purpose-built , beautiful facility on

01:00:22.020 --> 01:00:24.889
Guam . We're we're proud of it , but I

01:00:25.500 --> 01:00:27.667
will take it for the record if I may ,

01:00:27.667 --> 01:00:29.500
because it is not my point of my

01:00:29.500 --> 01:00:31.611
expertise in how we are taking a look

01:00:31.611 --> 01:00:33.722
at our Pacific posture right now . So

01:00:33.722 --> 01:00:35.833
I'd like to get back to you with that

01:00:35.833 --> 01:00:35.429
answer , sir . Absolutely . Thank you .

01:00:35.580 --> 01:00:38.340
Thank you , General . Uh , let's see .

01:00:38.429 --> 01:00:40.707
00 , submarine , submarine maintenance ,

01:00:40.707 --> 01:00:43.379
yeah , we enjoy the , uh , our , our

01:00:43.379 --> 01:00:45.490
subs there , and of course they enjoy

01:00:45.490 --> 01:00:47.490
the deep seas of , of the island as

01:00:47.490 --> 01:00:49.823
well . Uh , um , tell us how it's going ,

01:00:49.823 --> 01:00:52.179
Admiral , with , um , our home port of

01:00:52.179 --> 01:00:54.235
the fast tracks over there and , and

01:00:54.235 --> 01:00:56.540
our maintenance situation and utilizing

01:00:56.540 --> 01:00:58.540
of the tenders and what this budget

01:00:58.620 --> 01:01:01.770
will invest , uh , to help , uh , the

01:01:01.770 --> 01:01:05.439
maintenance capacities . Yeah , so , uh ,

01:01:05.679 --> 01:01:08.012
Guam certainly plays a critical role in ,

01:01:08.012 --> 01:01:10.235
in , in our defenses and certainly from

01:01:10.235 --> 01:01:12.235
a submarine force perspective , the

01:01:12.235 --> 01:01:14.179
forward deployed squadron 15 . For

01:01:14.179 --> 01:01:16.401
deployed submarines out of there . Um ,

01:01:16.401 --> 01:01:18.735
their presence there , their ability to ,

01:01:18.735 --> 01:01:20.623
as you , as you said , ability to

01:01:20.623 --> 01:01:20.199
immediately dive when you get outside

01:01:20.199 --> 01:01:22.199
the point there , it , it is just a

01:01:22.199 --> 01:01:24.255
great place to submarine from . Uh ,

01:01:24.255 --> 01:01:26.421
the tenders are a critical role , play

01:01:26.421 --> 01:01:28.532
a critical role there , not only in ,

01:01:28.532 --> 01:01:30.532
in servicing submarines and surface

01:01:30.532 --> 01:01:32.643
ships , uh , in and around Guam , but

01:01:32.643 --> 01:01:34.977
also throughout the entire AOR . So , a ,

01:01:34.977 --> 01:01:37.143
a vital role that expeditionary nature

01:01:37.143 --> 01:01:39.399
to revive , rearm , and resupply as

01:01:39.399 --> 01:01:41.840
needed , um , and the investments , uh ,

01:01:42.080 --> 01:01:44.358
continue for , uh , Polaris Point , uh ,

01:01:44.479 --> 01:01:47.479
efforts to ensure that is , uh , in a

01:01:47.479 --> 01:01:49.701
condition and supports the needs of the

01:01:49.701 --> 01:01:52.149
Navy both today and in the future . Uh ,

01:01:52.229 --> 01:01:54.507
thank you , Admiral . Uh , Mr . Potter ,

01:01:54.507 --> 01:01:56.699
uh , speaking about resupply for a

01:01:56.699 --> 01:01:58.532
forward area of Guam , there are

01:01:58.532 --> 01:02:01.110
munitions , especially , um , how , how

01:02:01.110 --> 01:02:03.277
are we doing with that with , uh , the

01:02:03.277 --> 01:02:05.989
increase , uh , well , we have adequate ,

01:02:06.149 --> 01:02:08.610
adequate space , the replenishment , uh ,

01:02:08.949 --> 01:02:11.550
at sea and forward staging capacity for

01:02:11.550 --> 01:02:13.772
the island of Guam , uh , in regards to

01:02:13.772 --> 01:02:17.159
munitions . Uh , Congressman , we are ,

01:02:17.379 --> 01:02:19.500
uh , laser focused on refilling our

01:02:19.500 --> 01:02:21.333
magazines wherever they are with

01:02:21.333 --> 01:02:23.389
munitions , and I think , you know ,

01:02:23.389 --> 01:02:25.659
Guam is obviously a part of that . And

01:02:25.659 --> 01:02:28.620
so , um , I mean , you're gonna see in

01:02:28.620 --> 01:02:30.898
this budget , obviously we've got , um ,

01:02:31.100 --> 01:02:33.500
over 100% increase over the FY 26

01:02:33.500 --> 01:02:35.667
budget for munitions , and it's really

01:02:35.667 --> 01:02:38.340
all types plus , uh , new low cost and

01:02:38.340 --> 01:02:40.939
other munitions to augment , um , some

01:02:40.939 --> 01:02:44.199
of our longer term programs . So , uh ,

01:02:44.320 --> 01:02:46.431
we're , you know , with that , making

01:02:46.431 --> 01:02:49.020
sure our , um , munitions activities

01:02:49.020 --> 01:02:51.800
and our ammo , um , locations are , are

01:02:51.800 --> 01:02:53.856
up and adequate for that , and we're

01:02:53.856 --> 01:02:56.229
committed to do that in phase , um , to

01:02:56.229 --> 01:02:58.229
make sure we're able to prepare for

01:02:58.229 --> 01:03:00.679
that . Uh , thank you . And also

01:03:00.679 --> 01:03:02.735
regarding our , our fast tracks over

01:03:02.735 --> 01:03:04.800
there , uh , we're always , we're

01:03:04.800 --> 01:03:06.967
requesting or we did have a great ship

01:03:06.967 --> 01:03:09.133
repair facility at , at one time . And

01:03:09.133 --> 01:03:11.244
there was an incident , uh , back way

01:03:11.244 --> 01:03:13.790
back , not too long ago , but where the

01:03:13.790 --> 01:03:15.846
submarine was being repaired on , on

01:03:15.846 --> 01:03:17.957
Guam . It was tremendous damage right

01:03:17.957 --> 01:03:20.068
on the nose , I believe , uh , but we

01:03:20.068 --> 01:03:21.957
were able to get it done . Do you

01:03:21.957 --> 01:03:24.229
foresee , uh , we utilizing the ship ,

01:03:24.429 --> 01:03:26.373
uh , bringing back the ship repair

01:03:26.373 --> 01:03:28.373
facility and also a dry dock , Mr .

01:03:28.459 --> 01:03:32.300
Potter ? Congressman , I will ,

01:03:32.370 --> 01:03:34.481
um , I'll get back to you with a full

01:03:34.481 --> 01:03:36.759
answer , but I , I think at this point ,

01:03:36.759 --> 01:03:38.870
you know , we're always assessing our

01:03:38.870 --> 01:03:40.926
maintenance repair , lay down in our

01:03:40.926 --> 01:03:43.037
dry docks and , uh , where additional

01:03:43.037 --> 01:03:45.314
investments , uh , may be needed , and ,

01:03:45.314 --> 01:03:47.426
uh , at this point I'm not aware of ,

01:03:47.426 --> 01:03:49.370
uh , increases in Guam along those

01:03:49.370 --> 01:03:51.092
lines , but I will follow up .

01:03:51.092 --> 01:03:53.370
Appreciate it . Thank you to the panel .

01:03:53.370 --> 01:03:52.889
Thank you very much . Thank you , Mr .

01:03:52.899 --> 01:03:55.121
Speaker , uh , Chairman . Now recognize

01:03:55.121 --> 01:03:59.030
Mr . Higgins . Thank you , Mr .

01:03:59.169 --> 01:04:02.159
Chairman , Mr . Potter . Admiral ,

01:04:02.580 --> 01:04:05.459
General , thank you for being here . Mr .

01:04:05.580 --> 01:04:08.340
Potter , I believe , I , I have you

01:04:08.340 --> 01:04:10.179
quoted accurately in one of your

01:04:10.179 --> 01:04:13.469
responses to a colleague . And

01:04:13.929 --> 01:04:16.669
addressing challenges in shipbuilding

01:04:16.889 --> 01:04:20.840
and the Delivery . He said the 7 or

01:04:20.840 --> 01:04:22.879
8 large shipyards are struggling to

01:04:22.879 --> 01:04:26.030
keep up with demand . I think that's a

01:04:26.030 --> 01:04:28.197
quote . You said , you continue to see

01:04:28.197 --> 01:04:31.030
delays . I believe that's a quote .

01:04:32.459 --> 01:04:34.348
And you said your intention , our

01:04:34.348 --> 01:04:36.070
intention as a nation and your

01:04:36.070 --> 01:04:38.709
intention representing the executive is

01:04:38.709 --> 01:04:41.229
to grow the industrial base here .

01:04:42.110 --> 01:04:45.870
Domestically . Um , uh , all that

01:04:45.870 --> 01:04:49.590
pretty accurate assessment of your

01:04:49.590 --> 01:04:52.169
position , OK . So .

01:04:53.939 --> 01:04:56.899
My question is regarding acquisition

01:04:56.899 --> 01:04:59.879
reforms . Because our smaller

01:04:59.879 --> 01:05:02.360
shipyards , it performed beautifully

01:05:02.360 --> 01:05:05.310
for , you know , a century . Our

01:05:05.310 --> 01:05:08.489
country And they In

01:05:09.649 --> 01:05:11.850
recent , in modern history , in the

01:05:11.850 --> 01:05:13.794
last couple of decades , they've ,

01:05:13.810 --> 01:05:15.754
they've been struggling to make it

01:05:15.754 --> 01:05:19.500
because Uh , because the federal

01:05:19.500 --> 01:05:22.500
government has not managed to deliver a

01:05:22.500 --> 01:05:25.379
stable environment for their business

01:05:25.379 --> 01:05:29.060
model . And as the , the ,

01:05:29.270 --> 01:05:31.492
the construction of our vessels for the

01:05:31.492 --> 01:05:34.280
Navy and the Marine Corps has shifted

01:05:34.280 --> 01:05:37.100
to large shipyards . So now we need

01:05:37.550 --> 01:05:39.550
plenty more ships . The warfighters

01:05:39.550 --> 01:05:41.661
need them . The navies need them . We

01:05:41.661 --> 01:05:43.828
need autonomous and unmanned vessels .

01:05:43.828 --> 01:05:46.050
We need a lot of them . And the , the ,

01:05:46.050 --> 01:05:49.699
the large shipyards can't perform . And

01:05:51.129 --> 01:05:54.169
we need to re-embrace the industrial

01:05:54.169 --> 01:05:58.090
base that we you have here . So

01:05:58.409 --> 01:06:01.530
in acquisition reforms , it's noted

01:06:01.530 --> 01:06:03.586
that we need predictable long term .

01:06:04.770 --> 01:06:08.570
Um , stability that extend beyond

01:06:08.570 --> 01:06:11.550
one budget cycle . And

01:06:12.449 --> 01:06:14.810
you have shipyards . You have many

01:06:14.810 --> 01:06:17.750
platform designs , many in unmanned and

01:06:17.929 --> 01:06:19.949
autonomous vessels from multiple

01:06:20.290 --> 01:06:22.457
shipyards that have designed and built

01:06:22.457 --> 01:06:24.512
their prototypes . Many of them have

01:06:24.512 --> 01:06:26.689
been tested quite extensively by the

01:06:26.689 --> 01:06:28.689
Navy and the Marine Corps . They're

01:06:28.689 --> 01:06:31.389
ready to contract right now for

01:06:31.389 --> 01:06:33.489
immediate production , so it's

01:06:33.489 --> 01:06:36.649
frustrating to us when we hear . Yeah ,

01:06:36.750 --> 01:06:38.861
we're making a transition . We're not

01:06:38.861 --> 01:06:41.083
quite there yet . Our big shipyards are

01:06:41.083 --> 01:06:43.790
struggling . You , you have , you have

01:06:43.790 --> 01:06:46.070
shipyards , small and regional

01:06:46.070 --> 01:06:50.010
shipyards dying on the vine . In

01:06:50.010 --> 01:06:53.389
our country That are ready to deliver

01:06:53.810 --> 01:06:56.100
the vessels that our Navy and our

01:06:56.100 --> 01:06:58.729
Marine Corps need right now . So will

01:06:58.729 --> 01:07:01.570
you address please respectfully , what

01:07:01.570 --> 01:07:04.409
are we doing to reform that the , the

01:07:04.409 --> 01:07:06.742
scenario that I've described , which is ,

01:07:06.850 --> 01:07:09.330
which is , uh , quite startling and

01:07:09.330 --> 01:07:13.139
real . Congressman , thank you for that

01:07:13.139 --> 01:07:15.195
question . I , I got , I have a very

01:07:15.195 --> 01:07:17.459
similar site picture , um , to what you

01:07:17.459 --> 01:07:20.179
just laid out there . I think there's

01:07:20.179 --> 01:07:22.560
two things that we can do right now .

01:07:22.820 --> 01:07:25.260
One is a complete design for these

01:07:25.260 --> 01:07:27.204
small shipyards . Whatever they're

01:07:27.204 --> 01:07:29.260
going to build , separate the design

01:07:29.260 --> 01:07:31.371
from the build , because many of them

01:07:31.371 --> 01:07:33.427
don't have in-house naval architects

01:07:33.427 --> 01:07:33.320
and ship designers . And if we give

01:07:33.320 --> 01:07:36.020
them . Some Navy specification that

01:07:36.020 --> 01:07:38.242
they're not really ready to put through

01:07:38.242 --> 01:07:40.600
their design process , we end up having

01:07:40.860 --> 01:07:43.193
challenges just getting the design done ,

01:07:43.193 --> 01:07:45.304
much less into the construction . And

01:07:45.304 --> 01:07:47.249
so we've seen that in a few of the

01:07:47.249 --> 01:07:49.249
smaller yards , um , along the Gulf

01:07:49.249 --> 01:07:51.416
Coast where we didn't do ourselves any

01:07:51.416 --> 01:07:53.471
favors kind of overloading them with

01:07:53.471 --> 01:07:53.469
something that was a little too much

01:07:53.469 --> 01:07:55.247
for them to handle within their

01:07:55.247 --> 01:07:57.600
capacity . So they used to be able to

01:07:57.600 --> 01:07:59.800
use a third-party engineering design

01:07:59.800 --> 01:08:01.856
firms that would kind of do the work

01:08:01.856 --> 01:08:04.078
for you , but those have even atrophied

01:08:04.078 --> 01:08:06.189
in this country . And so we're really

01:08:06.189 --> 01:08:08.244
at a place where if the design isn't

01:08:08.244 --> 01:08:10.189
complete and kind of in a build to

01:08:10.189 --> 01:08:12.356
print place , all of our shipyards can

01:08:12.356 --> 01:08:14.679
struggle . So regarding design , let me

01:08:14.679 --> 01:08:16.680
say that some of the most brilliant

01:08:16.680 --> 01:08:19.979
designers for naval vessels , including

01:08:19.979 --> 01:08:22.035
unmanned and autonomous , especially

01:08:22.200 --> 01:08:24.279
smaller vessels under 100 ft , let's

01:08:24.279 --> 01:08:27.770
say . Some of those most brilliant

01:08:27.770 --> 01:08:29.603
designers work for the , for the

01:08:29.603 --> 01:08:31.603
shipyards , not necessarily for the

01:08:31.603 --> 01:08:34.459
navy . They have like showroom model

01:08:34.459 --> 01:08:36.660
designs that , that they have , that

01:08:36.660 --> 01:08:38.327
they have developed and built

01:08:38.327 --> 01:08:41.089
prototypes . Um , is there a commitment

01:08:41.089 --> 01:08:44.020
within the executive to , to explore

01:08:44.020 --> 01:08:46.919
and test those existing . Models and

01:08:46.919 --> 01:08:48.975
designs and platforms and buy them .

01:08:49.000 --> 01:08:51.111
Yes , sir , I think the case in point

01:08:51.111 --> 01:08:53.278
is the landing ship medium where we've

01:08:53.278 --> 01:08:56.479
got the LST 100 domin done design that

01:08:56.479 --> 01:08:59.040
is what we turned around , um , with

01:08:59.040 --> 01:09:01.149
minimal buy America and other legal

01:09:01.149 --> 01:09:03.260
compliance things we had to do . Uh ,

01:09:03.260 --> 01:09:05.427
that's what was put into our RFP . I'm

01:09:05.427 --> 01:09:07.427
gonna have to take the rest for the

01:09:07.427 --> 01:09:09.649
record , gentleman's time's expired . I

01:09:09.649 --> 01:09:09.020
also want to recognize that Mr .

01:09:09.140 --> 01:09:11.459
Whitesides is here . Mr . Whitesides

01:09:11.459 --> 01:09:13.740
has kindly allowed , uh , to enter his

01:09:13.740 --> 01:09:15.740
questions for the record , which we

01:09:15.740 --> 01:09:17.684
would appreciate a response . Mr .

01:09:17.684 --> 01:09:19.907
Whitesides , thank you for doing that .

01:09:19.907 --> 01:09:22.129
They've called votes , and , uh , we're

01:09:22.129 --> 01:09:21.819
several minutes in , and I do not want

01:09:21.819 --> 01:09:23.930
to miss votes . But with that , thank

01:09:23.930 --> 01:09:25.986
the witnesses for being here and the

01:09:25.986 --> 01:09:25.899
hearing is adjourned .