Last week, U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., sent a letter to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense urging their continued support for the Navy’s Littoral Combat (LSC) Program, insisting it remains a critical component to U.S. Naval strategy.
Littoral Combat Ships are fast, agile, mission-focused fleets designed to operate in near-shore environments and have been developed and deployed over decades. It was recently revealed in the Department of Defense (DOD) Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request that the Navy proposed reducing the size of its LCS fleet earlier than originally planned.
“The Littoral Combat Ship Program remains a vital part of the Navy’s broader global strategy and maintaining our fleet size is critically important in maintaining our military’s combatant strength,” said Cammack. “Not only is Florida proud to be home to eight of these Littoral Combat Ships, located in the port of Jacksonville, but this program provides employment to folks from my own district, those who live throughout the eastern half of Florida’s Third Congressional District.”
The letter asks the House Appropriations Committee to continue funding the LCS program in the FY23 Defense Appropriations Bill. The letter also requests that the Navy maintain the number of Littoral Combat ships currently in operation.
Cammack wrote the following:
Dear Chairwoman McCollum and Ranking Member Calvert,
I write to urge continued support for the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program and request that the Navy maintain the number of Littoral Combat ships currently in operation. As you know, in the Department of Defense (DOD) fiscal year 2023 Budget Request, the Navy proposed reducing the size of its Littoral Combat Ship fleet earlier than originally planned. Yet, Littoral Combat Ships have a proven track record of cost-effective, versatile performance.
Littoral Combat Ships have crucial near-shore capabilities and have been developed and deployed over decades. LCS remains the best choice as a small combatant ship as part of the global U.S. naval strategy, specifically in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) where Littoral Combat Ships like the USS Milwaukee have been successfully deployed. The ships have proven to be an important asset to both the Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy with modifications that will continue to ensure they play a valuable role for years to come. Specifically, the Navy’s current testing of Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship as a forward operating maintenance platform for the LCS in SOUTHCOM.
Given the smaller size of America’s fleet, particularly when compared with China, it is vital that we retain our fleet size for the near future. Decommissioning the LCS would be a step in the wrong direction, denying our fleet of the ships’ numerous capabilities and cost-savings, particularly when compared with the proposed replacement vessels.
Florida is proud to be home to 8 of these Littoral Combat Ships as they deploy throughout the Atlantic Coast and the Caribbean. The LCS remains an invaluable part of the Navy’s broader global strategy and I strongly urge continued funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Appropriations Bill for the LCS Program.
Thank you for your consideration,
Author
