HASC Passes NDAA Boosting Shipbuilding, Authorizes 13 Battleforce Ships

The House Armed Services Committee on Thursday morning approved its annual defense policy bill and bolstered the Navy’s shipbuilding account and authorized 13 combat force ships.

The law on the authorization of national defense for the 2022 fiscal year was adopted by the committee by 57 votes to 2 early Thursday morning.

NDAA authorizes a total of three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, two Virginia-class attack boats, one Constellation-class frigate, one America-class amphibious assault ship, two EPFs, two John Lewis-class tankers, one tow Navajo-class rescue and rescue vessel, and a T-AGOS (X) ocean surveillance vessel.

The bill’s successful passage out of the panel comes after lawmakers on Wednesday passed an amendment that increase the turnover of the Ministry of Defense by 23.9 billion dollars. This same amendment also authorized funding for four other warships – an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, an America-class amphibious assault ship, an expeditionary rapid transport (EPF) ship, and a T-AO-class fleet tanker. -205 John Lewis – in addition to the eight that the Marine Forces and HASC Projection Subcommittee had allowed in its mark.

The total number of vessels authorized by the committee bill is five more than the eight combat force vessels requested by the Navy in its budget request for fiscal year 2022.

An amendment proposed by Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.), Who represents Mobile, authorized an additional $ 270 million for a second expeditionary rapid transport (EPF) vessel. Mobile is home to Austal USA, which builds the EPF. The panel adopted the amendment in a voice vote, the HASC majority announced on Twitter.

While the Navy only requested one destroyer in its budget request despite committing to a two-per-year multi-year supply contract, the HASC brand seapower authorized the second destroyer. The Maritime Power Panel had authorized two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, two Virginia-class submarines, a Constellation-class frigate, a Navajo-class tow, rescue and rescue vessel, a John Lewis-class tanker, and a T-AGOS (X) ocean surveillance vessel. The mark only allowed one tow, rescue and rescue vessel, despite the request for two from the Navy, resulting in the same net number of combat force vessels as the Navy requested.

Over the course of a multi-hour markup, the HASC considered hundreds of amendments, including one proposed by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) To place additional limitations on retired officers serving as chief civilian of the Pentagon. Gallagher’s amendment would extend the length of time an officer at the O-6 level or above must be without a uniform, before he can be appointed Secretary of Defense, from seven years to 10 years. Someone who has not been in uniform for 10 years would need a waiver that three quarters of the House and Senate support. The amendment was adopted.

While pressure from the HASC to increase Pentagon revenue reflects a similar decision by the Senate Armed Services Committee, which increased Defense Department revenue by $ 25 billion in its version. of the defense policy bill, it is not clear where the owners will fall. The House Appropriations Committee in July approved a defense spending bill that had $ 706 billion in revenue – as requested by the Biden administration.

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