Virginia Congressional Delegation Asks Navy to Keep Ships Homeported in Hampton Roads
District of Columbia | May 25, 2021
Virginia’s congressional delegation, led by Congressman Rob Wittman (R-Virginia-01), is warning the Navy not to forget the East Coast and Norfolk Naval Shipyard as international military and commercial dynamics draw attention to China and Russia.
“As we pivot towards the Indo-Pacific in our global force posture, it comes as no surprise that we’ve bolstered our presence on our Western Seaboard through increases in homeported ships. This increased presence is of such magnitude that San Diego has eclipsed Norfolk in the sheer number of homeported ships,” the delegation wrote in a letter to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday.
The letter argues that although naval power might be more relevant in the Pacific, the U.S. needs to maintain ships in the Atlantic in case of a sudden need. Additionally, they note that it is quicker to deploy to the Persian Gulf from Norfolk than from San Diego.
But a key concern for Virginia politicians is the economic impact of the Navy.
“Moreover, the positioning of our fleet must not only consider the imminent and intermediate threats we face, but the long-term economic successes of the United States that rely on secure operations. The Port of Virginia remains a critical economic asset, and Norfolk-based ships protect both this and the Port of New York, among other economic entities. The security of these assets is imperative not only to our economic viability, but to the global economy,” the letter argues…
(Excerpts from the Virginia Star)