Wis. lawmaker lobbies for LCS

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) has lobbied President Trump to support the Littoral Combat Ship in an upcoming FY 2018 budget request. She notes that the Freedom Class – built in her home state – would be positive for the administration’s push for a larger fleet, and his “Buy American, Hire American” policy. Baldwin wrote to Trump on May 12 to seek “the inclusion of funding for three Littoral Combat Ships” for the FY-18 budget request. Three ships a year has been identified as the lowest annual total to sustain the two shipyards that build the LCS: Marinette (Wis.) Marine and Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. Overall, Baldwin notes that the LCS program supports 2,200 direct jobs in Wisconsin. Austal USA, a North American subsidiary of the Australian firm Austal, is Mobile’s largest employer. The Navy has been consistent in not getting ahead of its FY-18 request; and repeatedly declined to comment on how many LCS it would buy ahead of a proposed future frigate, and the timing of that proposed transition. The FY-18 request is set to be released May 22. (Source: USNI 05/16/17)