American Shipbuilding Association

Navy Secretary Emphasizes Cost, Energy Savings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wednesday, Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus Co-Chairs Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) hosted a breakfast with Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy.  The meeting was attended by Representatives Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-LA), Travis Childers (D-MS), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Susan Davis (D-CA), John Duncan (R-TN), Gregg Harper (R-MS), Walter Jones (R-NC), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Eric Massa (D-NY), Glenn Nye (D-VA), Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Bobby Scott (D-VA).

            Secretary Mabus addressed a crowded room full of Members of Congress and staff, Department of Defense Officials, and shipbuilding industry partners.  The Secretary stressed that the Navy’s number one priority is its sailors and Marines.  The Navy’s second priority, he said, is the Navy’s ship fleet and the need for a strong shipbuilding industry and emphasized that reducing costs is a primary goal in shipbuilding.  To accomplish this, he said there needs to be stability in programs, that they need to have mature technologies, and that if those technologies improve, “we need to embrace open architecture” to facilitate ease of transitioning new technologies onto the next block of ships.  He also discussed the need to be predictable, letting the shipbuilders know years in advance the requirements and shipbuilding plan.  He stated that the industry needs to do its part in lowering costs by making facility investments, training and maintaining a skilled workforce, and passing on learning experience, which will in turn pass on savings to the Navy and taxpayers.