American Shipbuilding Association

Rep. Jo Ann Davis Receives 2006 Herbert H. Bateman Award

Honored for consistent leadership in support of a strong shipbuilding industrial base, Representative Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) was presented with the American Shipbuilding Association’s Herbert H. Bateman Award during a ceremony held on June 28th. The Bateman Award is the shipbuilding industry’s highest honor.

In remarks preceding presentation of the award, Cynthia L. Brown, President of the American Shipbuilding Association, outlined Rep. Davis’s many accomplishments and emphasized the Congresswoman’s continued work in the House of Representatives to rebuild the Nation’s naval fleet. Rep. Davis has sponsored legislation to require that ships for our military be built in the United States by ending the de facto purchase of foreign-built ships through long-term leases. The Congresswoman also promotes commercial shipbuilding programs which strengthen the U.S. defense shipbuilding industrial base, and she co-founded and co-chairs the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus. “Representative Davis has been a tireless leader in Congress in promoting a strong shipbuilding industry,” stated Brown, and “through her efforts, America’s national security is strengthened.”

Pictured from Left to Right: (front row) John Casey, President of Electric Boat and ASA Chairman; Dugan Shipway, President of Bath Iron Works; Rep. Jo Ann Davis; Laura Bateman, widow of Rep. Herbert Bateman; Mike Petters, President of NG Newport News and ASA Vice-Chairman; (back row) Cynthia Brown, President of American Shipbuilding Association; George Yount, Vice President of Operations, Avondale, NGSS; Philip Teel, President of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingalls; Michael Toner, Executive Vice-President of General Dynamics Marine Systems; Fred Harris, President of National Steel and Shipbuilding Company.

The Herbert H. Bateman award was established by the American Shipbuilding Association in 2000. This Award is given annually to an individual in the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, or industry who has demonstrated years of consistent, outstanding, and inspirational leadership in fighting for a stronger shipbuilding industry. Congressman Herbert H. Bateman (R-VA), the award’s namesake who served the First District of Virginia from 1981-2000, demonstrated these qualities throughout his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Jo Ann Davis succeeded Rep. Herb Bateman in representing the 1st Congressional District of Virginia.

Previous recipients of the Herbert H. Bateman award are: Rep. Herbert H. Bateman (R-VA); Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME); Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS); Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK); Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA); and Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS).

House Appropriations Bill Funds 6 Naval Ships

Before adjourning for the 4th of July recess, the House of Representatives passed its version of the FY 2007 Defense Appropriations Bill (HR 5631). The legislation recommends $10.5 billion for the Navy’s shipbuilding and conversion account; $87 million below the President’s budget request.

The House Appropriations Committee approved $2.4 billion for one Virginia-class submarine; $2.6 billion for DDG-1000, the next generation of destroyers; $1 billion for 1 LHA(R) amphibious assault ship; and $455 million for one T-AKE dry cargo ammunition ship. The Committee cut $141.4 million from the $577.8 million requested for completion of prior year shipbuilding programs, citing concern over “the lack of cost control in Navy shipbuilding programs, specifically overruns in the CVN-77 aircraft carrier and Virginia-class submarine programs.” Although the Committee cited concern over the continual delay in procuring two submarines a year, and the stress this delay is causing within the shipbuilding industrial base, unlike the House Defense Authorization bill passed on May 11th, the House Defense Appropriations bill did not increase advance procurement for a second Virginia-class submarine in fiscal year 2009. The Committee did urge the Navy to find additional resources to increase procurement in the next budget cycle. Of concern to the industry is House Appropriation Committee’s denial of the Navy’s request to split-fund DDG-1000, which would allow two ships to be constructed at two shipyards simultaneously. Support for dual lead ship construction is necessary to sustain the Nation’s surface combatant shipyards and manufacturing supplier base. Disruption in construction will result in job losses and increase the cost of the Program.

Like the Senate and House Defense Authorization bills, the House Appropriations Committee expressed pleasure with the Navy for putting forth a shipbuilding plan to provide for a stable shipbuilding program. However, the Committee stressed that it doubted the Navy’s ability to rebuild the fleet to 313 ships and hold to the plan without controlling ship costs, and “encourages the Navy to set firm cost targets in its future shipbuilding programs; to develop specific initiatives addressing cost control; and to sign contracts that reduce the likelihood of cost growth.”

Completion of the Senate version of the Defense Appropriations Bill in mid-July.

Senators and Representatives Urge Top Line Budget Increase for Naval Ships

While applauding the Navy’s submission of a 30-year shipbuilding plan earlier this year as a framework to begin rebuilding the naval fleet, many Members of Congress remain cautious as to the commitment of the Department of Defense to provide the funds necessary to rebuild the Navy to the 313 ship force level outlined in the Quadrennial Defense Review. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI), and Representatives Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) and Gene Taylor (D-MS) sponsored bipartisan letters to the Secretary of Defense urging DOD to support the $14.1 billion in fiscal year 2008 – the amount that Navy leadership has stated is necessary to begin rebuilding the Fleet.

Over the past five years, the top line budget of the Department of Defense has increased 51 percent, while the ship procurement budget has actually been cut by 16.8 percent. These budget cuts have shrunk the U.S. Navy fleet from 341 ships in 2001 to just 281 ships today. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), ADM Mike Mullen, has stated that $14.1 billion (in fiscal year 2007 dollars) is needed in fiscal year 2008 to begin reversing years of underinvestment in the Fleet. The $14.1 billion was identified by the CNO as the budget requirement for ship procurement in the 30-year shipbuilding plan submitted to Congress.

The following Members of Congress are signatories in support of rebuilding the U.S. naval fleet: Senators: Susan Collins (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), Trent Lott (R-MS), Jim Talent (R-MO), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), David Vitter (R-LA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Representatives: Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), Gene Taylor (D-MS), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Rodney Alexander (R-LA), Tom Allen (D-ME), Richard Baker (R-LA), Marion Berry (D-AR), Tim Bishop (D-NY), Jo Bonner (R-AL), Robert Brady (D-PA), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Henry Brown (R-SC), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Geoff Davis (R-KY), Tom Davis (R-VA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Charles Dent (R-PA), Mike Doyle (D-PA), Thelma Drake (R-VA), Phil English (R-PA), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Randy Forbes (R-VA), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Virgil Goode (R-VA), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Bart Gordon (D-TN), Gene Green (D-TX), Melissa Hart (R-PA), Robin Hayes (R-NC), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Steve Israel (D-NY), William Jefferson (D-LA), Bobby Jindal (R-LA), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Walter Jones (R-NC), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), John Kline (R-MN), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Larson (D-CT), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), James McGovern (D-MA), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Charlie Melancon (D-LA), Mike Michaud (D-ME), Richard Neal (D-MA), Chip Pickering (R-MS), Todd Platts (R-PA), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rob Simmons (R-CT), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Ted Strickland (D-OH), Bart Stupak (D-MI), John Sullivan (R-OK), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Frank Wolf (R-VA).

INDUSTRY NEWS

New Partner 

Lister Chain & Forge, Inc., has joined the American Shipbuilding Association. Located in Blaine, Washington, Lister Chain & Forge is a leading manufacturer of large diameter anchor chain, bouy mooring chain, anchors, connecting links, and marine fittings for U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and commercial ships.

Sea Power Ambassador

Are you interested in national security and U.S. sovereignty? How about ensuring our Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Mariners are provided with the safest ships in the world? Are you supportive of America maintaining an independent defense industrial base? If so, you need to be a Sea Power Ambassador. Registration is easy, and participation even easier. With the touch of a button, you can help define the future of America’s sea services. Register today at www.seapowerambassador.org.

Well Said!

“The vessel I’m standing on is the product of a workforce and a supplier base whose innovation, ingenuity, and unrelenting work ethic are unmatched by anyone, anywhere.”

John Casey
President, Electric Boat
Christening of the USS Hawaii
June 17, 2006