Today, the Navy, announced based on a year-long Environmental Impact Study (EIS) their preference to homeport one aircraft carrier within the next five years in Mayport, Fla. vice in Hampton Roads.
The announcement elicited reaction from several of Virginia’s elected officials…
Gov. Tim Kaine:
“I note with disappointment the news today regarding the Secretary of the Navy’s preferred alternative for carrier homeporting. While the selected alternative moves one carrier and no additional support ships to Mayport, any such action, if approved and funded by Congress, would incur substantial costs for what appears to be a limited operational advantage. Considering the impacts of the financial crisis on federal, state, and local budgets, we question the wisdom and timing of an option that will cost the Navy an incredible amount of money and not significantly improve the nation’s security.
“Clearly the Navy and the nation’s needs are best served by maintaining Hampton Roads as the east Coast carrier base, co-located with the east Coast Master Jet Base at Oceana. Virginia will continue to offer substantive information in support of this fact during the comment period on the environmental impact statement. I will continue to work closely with Virginia’s Congressional delegation to keep all of Hampton Roads’ fleet in Virginia.”
Rep. Thelma Drake:
“I strongly disagree with the Navy’s decision today. Norfolk has served the Navy well as homeport to the East Coast carrier fleet. Our national debt is exploding and many defense priorities are unfunded. This is not the time for the Navy to spend what they estimate to be $500 million on duplicative infrastructure which President-Elect Obama has already said he is not inclined to support. Our commitment must be to the 313 ship Navy.”
Rep. J. Randy Forbes:
“In the midst of a ballooning budget deficit and a declining economy, every defense dollar should be spent on the most important national security priorities, including the Navy’s stated priorities of providing benefits to our soldiers, reaching a 313-ship Navy, and restoring the readiness in our aging aircraft fleet. Moving a carrier to Mayport will require a great deal of time and upwards of half a billion dollars. I am concerned that the decision made by the Navy today not only lacks strong national security rationale requiring the move, but brings into question the political nature of the decision making process, creating significant challenges for the Navy to meet its stated priorities.”
