Byrne Letter Shows Broad Bipartisan, Geographic Support for LCS Program

Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) today released the text of a letter he, along with 45 of his House colleagues, sent to the House Armed Services Committee outlining their support for the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program.

The letter requests the Armed Services Committee reject efforts by the Obama Administration to cut the LCS program from 52 ships to 40. The letter specifically calls on the Committee to authorize funding for three Littoral Combat Ships in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA process gets underway this week.

The letter was signed by 32 Republicans and 14 Democrats. The signers represented 19 different states ranging from California to Michigan to Georgia to New York. The letter was also signed by all seven members of the Alabama House delegation.

Byrne said: “The LCS program is critical to the future of the Navy, and I am pleased to have so many of my colleagues join me in fighting back against these proposed cuts. The LCS program has been studied time and time again, and each time it becomes even more clear that we need 52 of these ships in order to properly defend our nation and keep sea lanes around the world open for commerce. I will continue working every day to protect the LCS program and the men and women who serve in the U.S. Navy.”

The letter was signed by Reps. Reid Ribble (R-WI), Rod Blum (R-IA), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Sam Johnson (R-TX), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Austin Scott (R-GA), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), William Keating (D-MA), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Gregg Harper (R-MS), Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Tom Marino (R-PA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Ron Kind (D-WI), John Katko (R-NY), Robert Brady (D-PA), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), James McGovern (D-MA), Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Martha Roby (R-AL), Dan Benishek (R-MI), Mike R0gers (R-AL), James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Glen Grothman (R-WI), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Steve Chabot (R-OH), David Valadao (R-CA), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Scott Rigell (R-VA), Steve Knight (R-CA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Mike Bishop (R-MI), David Jolly (R-FL), and Dave Trott (R-MI).

Click here to read the letter.