WASHINGTON — Several congressmen have pledged support for U.S. naval aviation while noting the stress that naval aviation and the sea services in general are under in meeting the nation’s defense commitments in a budget-constrained environment.
Speaking to an audience June 3 on Capitol Hill at a forum on naval aviation sponsored by the Navy League’s America’s Strength initiative, Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC’s) seapower and projections forces subcommittee, praised the 363-60 vote of his colleagues to defeat a move to reduce the Navy’s aircraft carrier fleet form 11 to 10 ships.