Wicker bill aims for 355-ship Navy

WASHINGTON - Two Republican senators are scheduled to unveil legislation June 22 to make it policy to maintain a 355-ship Navy, according to a draft of the legislation. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who chairs the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, and House counterpart, Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia are to roll out a one-page bill aiming for a 355-ship Navy “as soon as practicable,” according to the draft legislation. The Navy currently has 276 ships. In a hearing June 21, Sen. Wicker pressed the Navy’s top acquisition buyer Allison Stiller and the Navy’s top integration of capabilities and resources officer, Vice Adm. William Lescher, as to how the Navy planned to speed up the timeline of getting nearly 80 new ships. (Source: Defense News 06/21/17)