Source: United States Senator for Alabama Richard Shelby
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its subcommittee on defense, today considered the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) funding request and budget justification for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps during a defense appropriations subcommittee hearing. The witnesses who testified before the subcommittee include: Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, Admiral Michael M. Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations, and General David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Senator Shelby’s remarks, as prepared, are as follows:
“Secretary Del Toro, Admiral Gilday, and General Berger, welcome and thank you for being here.
“I look forward to hearing more about the budget request for the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps for fiscal year 2023.
“The Department of the Navy has played and will continue to play a critical role in the defense of our nation.
“The capabilities that it has and the future capabilities that it pursues communicates our resolve to both our adversaries and our allies.
“While it is important that the Navy continue to man, train, and equip a ready force, we must also prioritize key modernization priorities.
“These priorities include hypersonic weapons and recapitalization of the Navy’s nuclear arsenal, all while keeping a sharp watch on our adversaries.
“China and Russia continue to make unprecedented expenditures in advanced weapons, demonstrating new capabilities and their commitment to increased capacity.
“While the U.S. seeks to maintain military superiority, it is concerning that the total funding requested for the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps does not even keep pace with inflation.
“I am concerned about what this communicates to both our allies and our adversaries.
“Therefore, I look forward to hearing how the fiscal year 2023 budget request proposes to meet the needs of the Navy and Marine Corps while preserving our current and future advantages. Thank you.”
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