SLC Times

Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis from Utah have introduced two legislative proposals aimed at improving the readiness and capabilities of the United States Navy and Coast Guard. The proposed bills, named the "Ensuring Naval Readiness Act" and the "Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act," seek to modernize and expedite shipbuilding processes through enhanced collaboration with allied nations.

"Both bills are about leveraging our diplomatic relationships and the comparative advantages of our allies to ensure America remains at the forefront of maritime security," stated Senator Lee. He emphasized that modernizing shipbuilding and repair approaches would enhance military readiness while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Senator Curtis expressed his support for these initiatives, stating, “The Ensuring Naval Readiness Act and the Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act take common-sense measures to strengthen America’s Navy and Coast Guard while keeping costs down and reinforcing our alliances with trusted partners.” He further noted his pleasure in supporting Senator Lee on these bills to address national security threats.

The "Ensuring Naval Readiness Act" aims to address a critical shortfall in naval forces by allowing ship construction or component production in NATO member countries or Indo-Pacific nations with mutual defense agreements with the U.S. This approach is intended to reduce costs, speed up delivery times, and align current capabilities with strategic needs.

Similarly, the "Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act" proposes a strategic shift for constructing U.S. Coast Guard vessels. It allows partnerships with allied shipyards for quicker, cost-effective procurement without compromising national security. The bill specifically permits major vessel components' construction in foreign shipyards not influenced by adversarial powers like China.

For more information on these legislative proposals or to access bill texts and summaries, interested parties can refer to provided links.