After Hearings, Lawmakers Call Truman Carrier Retirement Plan ‘Ridiculous’
By: Megan Eckstein
March 28, 2019 6:14 PM
CAPITOL HILL – Lawmakers told industry representatives today that, if it wasn’t already clear from their hearings with Pentagon and Navy leadership this week, they had no intention of letting the Defense Department shed an aircraft carrier instead of refuel it.
“I think that’s’ a ridiculous idea,†Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.), a retired Navy commander and current representative of the district that includes Naval Station Norfolk, said at the Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition’s annual Capitol Hill breakfast and lobbying day.
“That math doesn’t work,†said Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), the ranking member of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee whose district stretches into the Hampton Roads region.
“The idea of squandering an asset and not refueling when it has another 30 years of existing life seems like a big waste of money,†Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said at the event.
https://news.usni.org/2019/03/28/after-navy-hearings-lawmakers-still-call-truman-carrier-retirement-plan-ridiculous#more-42232
