Navy League of the United States The U

Navy League of the United States The U. S. Navy: America’s Strength For Congressman Matt Gaetz, Florida 1 st District, August XX, 2017 1 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

AGENDA • • • 2 History of the Navy League of the United States Background on the Pensacola, FL. Council The Decline in size of the U. S. Navy Fleet Navy League Priorities Closing Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

Navy League of the United States • Founded in 1902 with the support of President Teddy Roosevelt • Promotes the need for strength in seapower • Civilian organization • 230 Local Councils • 42, 000 members worldwide • Our Goal: to educate the public and elected officials on the importance of a strong maritime component for our National Security • Supports and advocates for members of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and U. S. -Flag Merchant Marine 3 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

The Pensacola Council of Navy League • Pensacola NL members; more than 350 in the 1 st Congressional District of Florida • Civilian Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, but all believe in strong sea services. • Key Activities: Junior Navy and Marine Corps ROTC, Adopt-a. Ship, public education on sea services, ship commissionings, Naval Sea Cadets Corps 4 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

“Protecting the Sea Lanes & America’s Commerce” 5 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

The Declining U. S. Naval Fleet • Before 2003, nearly every President and every Congress maintained a fleet size of over 300 ships. • High deterrent value; our Navy is present worldwide • Serious decline in fleet size that began in 1990 s continues because of insufficient funds • Our Fleet is imperative to ensure capabilities for: • Conflict Deterrence • Forward Presence • Maritime Security • Protection of International Sea Lanes • Humanitarian Assistance/ Disaster Response • While our fleet size declines, our global trade increases • 90% of world wide trade is transported by sea The Navy League recommends a fleet of 355 ships 6 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

The World Needs the U. S. Navy Even when the U. S. Navy attempts to scale down operations, reality interferes: actual deployments far exceed planned deployments as Combatant Commanders request ships to project forward, deter adversaries, demonstrate American strength and respond to crises. 7 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

Fewer Ships + Sustained Op. Tempo = Longer Deployments Fewer ships and a growing mission means longer deployment lengths. Not only does this lead to increased rates of wear and tear on ships, but, more importantly, this hurts sailors and their families. 8 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

New Force Structure Assessment Supports Need for Bigger Fleet • When countries won’t support land-based military operations, we can depend on Naval platforms, making Navy in high demand by all Combatant Commanders. • To fulfill all Combatant Commander requests for Navy assets, we would need a fleet of 653 ships. The realistic number determined by the Navy is a fleet of 355 ships. • To support the new Force Structure Assessment and meet the 10 year goal set by the CNO, the SCN budget should be increased to $26. 6 billion and the Navy should procure 12 deployable battle force ships in FY 18 The Navy League Recommends: • SCN budget of $26. 6 Billion or greater • Funding the Columbia-class program outside the SCN account as authorized to avoid budget disruptions and recognize this program as a national asset as authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act 9 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

Navy League’s Top Priority: Repeal the Budget Control Act • In FY 2018, the defense budget drops back to sequestration levels, a 19% reduction from projected funding levels. • There is no corresponding reduction in requirements as threats like ISIL, Chinese, North Korean, and Russian aggression increase around the globe • Other nations are investing more and more in their own shipbuilding and aircraft capability, especially submarines • The U. S. must project strength to deter adversaries. The Navy is the only service that not only WINS wars, but PREVENTS wars. 10 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

Navy League Priorities Columbia-class Submarine Program • The Ohio-class replacement provides strategic nuclear deterrence and is the most survivable leg of our nuclear triad • We must fund both the Columbia-class submarine, crucial to deterrence, while growing the fleet. Protect Readiness • Lack of spare parts, delayed maintenance on many F/A-18 Hornets • Many squadrons are not able to meet flying hours, eroding carefully-honed skills • Shipyards have a significant backlog of ship and submarine maintenance due to sequestration cuts • Long deployments hurt morale, increase maintenance needs, and are unsustainable over the long-term • The FY 2018 budget request makes significant investments in readiness that must be preserved. 11 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

FY 2018 Priorities The Navy League supports: – Raising the defense budget caps by repealing the Budget Control Act – A fleet of 355 ships, as directed by the Force Structure Assessment – Increasing the shipbuilding budget to $26. 6 B to achieve a fleet of at least 355 ships – Prioritizing the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program – Protecting readiness 12 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

The Navy League of the United States • • • 13 In Conclusion: Our national fleet size is smaller today smaller than we need in a time of global instability. A strong national fleet of at least 355 is imperative to national security and secure trade. Building and maintaining a fleet of this size requires the support of Congress must pass regular budgets in a timely fashion. Continuing resolutions, sequestration, and delayed budgets hurt our Navy! In the words of Navy League’s founder, President Teddy Roosevelt, “ A good navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guarantee of peace. ” Citizens in Support of the Sea Services

Navy League of the United States Daniel Mc. Cort Vice President/LA Pensacola Council CTW 600000@aol. com 832 -630 -3727 navyleagueofus@bellsouth. net Join the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus to help save American shipbuilding! 14 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services