Naval Construction and Operations Bill of 2007

[Ebowed]

Naval Construction and Operations Bill of 2007

§1. Indian Ocean home port
   (a) Findings
      (1) The Senate finds that the operation of naval vessels in the Indian Ocean and the littoral seas thereof on an ongoing basis is certain given the situation in the foreseeable future.
      (2) The Senate further finds that establishing an overseas home port for a carrier battle group in the Indian Ocean would enhance the availability and readiness of naval forces operating in the Indian Ocean and the littoral seas thereof.
      (3) The Senate further finds that existing port facilities utilized by the Atlasian Navy located in the Indian Ocean and the littoral seas thereof are inadequate to host the home port of a carrier battle group.
   (b) Negotiations
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to undertake negotiations with the members of the Global Treaty Organization abutting the Indian ocean concerning either the construction of new facilities or the usage or expansion of existing facilities to be used as a home port for a carrier battle group for a period of not less than twenty-five years.  In conducting such negotiations, the Secretary shall take into consideration -
      (1) the relative costs of utilizing proposed home ports,
      (2) the availability. cost, and quality of facilities for the use the dependents of naval personnel assigned either to the home port itself or to ships assigned to the home port, and
      (3) the possibility of colocating in the vicinity of the home port of the carrier battle group a base to support at least one Marine Expeditionary Unit and its supporting units and ships.
   (c) Timetable
      (1) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to provide the Senate with an estimate of the costs, including fees paid to the host country for the right to use such a home port, of establishing and operating such a home port no later than December 31, 2007.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to plan for the initial operations of the Indian Ocean home port called for in this section no later than December 31, 2009.
   (d) Establishment
   Establishment of an Indian Ocean home port for a carrier battle group shall be contingent upon -
      (1) the ratification of a treaty allowing such a home port by the Senate of Atlasia and the government of the host country, and
      (2) the appropriation of funds by the Senate of Atlasia to implement the treaty and the construction and operation of the home port.

§2. Carrier Battle Groups
   (a) Findings
   The Senate finds that the number of carrier battle groups operated by the Atlasian Navy is in excess of current needs.
   (b) Reduction
      (1) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to reduce the number of carrier battle groups in commission from twelve to eleven no later than December 31, 2008.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is further directed to reduce the number of carrier battle groups in commission from eleven to ten no later than the later of -
         (A) December 31, 2010, or
         (B) one year after the date of initial operations an Indian Ocean home port for a carrier battle group.
   (c) CVN 65
   In addition to the carriers needed by the carrier battle groups, the Secretary of External Affairs is authorized to retain CVN 65 Enterprise in commission as a training carrier.  Once assigned to duty as a training carrier, the Secretary shall report annually on the relative costs of operating her as a training carrier compared to the costs of decomissioning her and her eight nuclear reactors and utilizing other training facilities instead.

§3. Carrier Construction
   Due to the reduction in the number of carrier battle groups called for in sections 2, the Secretary of External Affairs is directed to delay the construction of the first of the CVN 21 carriers so that the initial commissioning occurs in FY 2018 instead of FY 2015, and further directed to delay construction so that initial commissioning occurs in FY 2021 if the number of carrier battle groups is reduced to ten.

§4. Command Ships
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to undertake a design study for a new class of command ships to replace the elderly Blue Ridge-class vessels, with a goal of constructing three command ships, entering commission in FY 2011, 2012, and 2013.  $50,000,000 is appropriated to conduct the design study.

§5. Amphibious Assault Ships
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the first four ships of the LHA 6 class as LHA 6 Hornet, LHA 7 Shangri-La, LHA 8 Ranger, and LHA 9 Intrepid.

§6. Landing Platform Docks
   (a) $2,000,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated to build three additional San Antonio-class LPD's to be delivered in FY 2012, 2013, and 2014 respectively,
   (b) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the three ships authorized by this section LPD 26 Charleston, LPD 27 Wilmington, and LPD 28 Savannah.

§7. Dry cargo ships
   (a) Naming
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the sixth Lewis and Clark class ship T-AKE 6 John W. Powell, the seventh T-AKE 7 William L. Herndon, the eighth T-AKE 8 Robert Gray, the ninth T-AKE 9 Charles Wilkes, the tenth T-AKE 10 Edmund Fanning, and the eleventh T-AKE 11 Charles W. Beebe.
   (b) Cancellation of unneeded ships due to CBG reduction
   The twelfth Lewis and Clark class ship is canceled, and the eleventh shall not be ordered before January 1, 2008 and may be ordered only if a treaty providing for the lease of an Indian Ocean home port for a carrier battle group is not signed by the President by that date.

§8. Double hulled oilers
   (a) Construction
   To permit the retirement of older single hull oilers and bring the Atlasian Navy's takers into compliance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, there is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 each for the construction of thirteen double-hulled versions of the Henry J. Kaiser class oiler as follows:
      (1) 1 tanker is authorized for FY 2007 and $100,000,000 is appropriated for such construction,
      (2) 2 tankers are authorized for FY 2008,
      (3) 2 tankers are authorized for FY 2009,
      (4) 2 tankers are authorized for FY 2010,
      (5) 3 tankers are authorized for FY 2011, and
      (6) 3 tankers are authorized for FY 2012.
   (b) Excess appropriations to be used to pay for dismantling of obsolete oilers
   Appropriations in excess of the purchase price of the oilers acquired pursuant to subsection (a) shall be used to pay for the dismantling in Atlasian shipyards of mothballed single-hulled oilers in excess of mobilization needs.

§9. Destroyers
   The DDX program is ordered suspended with no funds to be paid for further construction of the two lead ships pending a review of needs for destroyers by the Atlasian Navy in light of the reduction of the numbers of carrier battle groups.

§10. Frigates
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to reduce the number of frigates in commission to 24 Flight II Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates by no later than September 30, 2008.

§11. Submarines
   (a) Los Angeles class
      (1) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to cancel all refueling of non-VLS Los Angeles class submarines.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to decommission at least two non-VLS Los Angeles class submarines and to enter them in the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program each fiscal year beginning in FY 2008.
   (b) Virginia class
      (1) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the sixth Virgina class submarine SSN 779 New Mexico, the seventh SSN 780 Delaware, and the eighth SSN 781 South Carolina.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to cancel the ninth Virginia class submarine.
   (c) AIP Submarine
      (1) The Senate finds that Atlasia is likely to have a continuing need for submarine patrols in the Persian Gulf and other littoral waters for the foreseeable future and that the use of smaller less-expensive air independent propulsion (AIP) submarines is a more cost effective solution for sustained operations in shallow littoral waters than the use of current SSN's.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to acquire at at a total cost of no more than $2,100,000,000 six AIP's similar to the Type U212A of the Deutsche Marine, with 1 to enter commission in in each of FY 2010 through 2015.
      (3) Preference in granting a contract shall be given to construction in Atlasian shipyards, but if the timetable and cost requirements of paragraph (2) can only be met by construction in a foreign shipyard of a NATO ally, the Secretary of External Affairs is directed to enter into a contract with such a shipyard for any or all of the six submarines called for in this subsection.
      (4) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the six submarines called for in this subsection as follows: Torpedo, Numbfish, Skate, Stingray, Manta, and Whipray.


Sponsor: Sen. Ernest

[Ebowed]

I motion to strike sections 1, 4, and 6 from the bill and renumber the rest of the sections appropriately.

[Everett]

I second the motion.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Argument for retaining Section 1

We've maintained foreign home ports in the past and currently.  Even with a total withdrawal from Iraq, I can't imagine any responsible commander-in chief not stationing a carrier battle group in the Indian Ocean on a full time basis. Thus establishing a home port in the region will save the government money and reduce the stress on naval dependents. While my preference is for a home port in Western Australia, I did write this bill so as to give sufficient flexibility to allow other Atlasian allies in the region to be considered.

Argument for retaining Section 4

The ships that Section 4 provides a design study for replacements of will be about 40 years old each when the proposed commissioning of the replacements occurs, which is well past their original planned service life.  New command ships will reduce maintenance costs and enable the latest technologies to be added at a lower cost than upgrading the existing ships would allow.

Argument for retaining Section 6

LPD's basically act as fast cargo ships capable of supplying our Marines with what they need after the landing has been accomplished.  There should be one per amphibious group and to do that we need three more of the vessels than are currently provided for.

[Ebowed]

The vote on striking sections 1, 4, and 6 is open.

[Ebowed]

Aye

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Nay to all three.

[Everett]

Aye.

[Colin]

Nay to all

[Јas]

Sections 1 & 4: Nay
Section 6: Abstain

[Brandon H]

Nay to all 3.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

1 & 6: Nay
4: Abstain

[DWPerry]

NAY
NAY
&
NAY

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Aye to all

[Ebowed]

The amendments fail.

[Ebowed]

Naval Construction and Operations Bill of 2007

§1. Indian Ocean home port
   (a) Findings
      (1) The Senate finds that the operation of naval vessels in the Indian Ocean and the littoral seas thereof on an ongoing basis is certain given the situation in the foreseeable future.
      (2) The Senate further finds that establishing an overseas home port for a carrier battle group in the Indian Ocean would enhance the availability and readiness of naval forces operating in the Indian Ocean and the littoral seas thereof.
      (3) The Senate further finds that existing port facilities utilized by the Atlasian Navy located in the Indian Ocean and the littoral seas thereof are inadequate to host the home port of a carrier battle group.
   (b) Negotiations
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to undertake negotiations with the members of the Global Treaty Organization abutting the Indian ocean concerning either the construction of new facilities or the usage or expansion of existing facilities to be used as a home port for a carrier battle group for a period of not less than twenty-five years.  In conducting such negotiations, the Secretary shall take into consideration -
      (1) the relative costs of utilizing proposed home ports,
      (2) the availability. cost, and quality of facilities for the use the dependents of naval personnel assigned either to the home port itself or to ships assigned to the home port, and
      (3) the possibility of colocating in the vicinity of the home port of the carrier battle group a base to support at least one Marine Expeditionary Unit and its supporting units and ships.
   (c) Timetable
      (1) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to provide the Senate with an estimate of the costs, including fees paid to the host country for the right to use such a home port, of establishing and operating such a home port no later than December 31, 2007.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to plan for the initial operations of the Indian Ocean home port called for in this section no later than December 31, 2009.
   (d) Establishment
   Establishment of an Indian Ocean home port for a carrier battle group shall be contingent upon -
      (1) the ratification of a treaty allowing such a home port by the Senate of Atlasia and the government of the host country, and
      (2) the appropriation of funds by the Senate of Atlasia to implement the treaty and the construction and operation of the home port.

§2. Carrier Battle Groups
   (a) Findings
   The Senate finds that the number of carrier battle groups operated by the Atlasian Navy is in excess of current needs.
   (b) Reduction
      (1) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to reduce the number of carrier battle groups in commission from twelve to eleven no later than December 31, 2008.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is further directed to reduce the number of carrier battle groups in commission from eleven to ten no later than the later of -
         (A) December 31, 2010, or
         (B) one year after the date of initial operations an Indian Ocean home port for a carrier battle group.
   (c) CVN 65
   In addition to the carriers needed by the carrier battle groups, the Secretary of External Affairs is authorized to retain CVN 65 Enterprise in commission as a training carrier.  Once assigned to duty as a training carrier, the Secretary shall report annually on the relative costs of operating her as a training carrier compared to the costs of decomissioning her and her eight nuclear reactors and utilizing other training facilities instead.

§3. Carrier Construction
   Due to the reduction in the number of carrier battle groups called for in sections 2, the Secretary of External Affairs is directed to delay the construction of the first of the CVN 21 carriers so that the initial commissioning occurs in FY 2018 instead of FY 2015, and further directed to delay construction so that initial commissioning occurs in FY 2021 if the number of carrier battle groups is reduced to ten.

§4. Command Ships
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to undertake a design study for a new class of command ships to replace the elderly Blue Ridge-class vessels, with a goal of constructing three command ships, entering commission in FY 2011, 2012, and 2013.  $50,000,000 is appropriated to conduct the design study.

§5. Amphibious Assault Ships
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the first four ships of the LHA 6 class as LHA 6 Hornet, LHA 7 Shangri-La, LHA 8 Ranger, and LHA 9 Intrepid.

§6. Landing Platform Docks
   (a) $2,000,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated to build three additional San Antonio-class LPD's to be delivered in FY 2012, 2013, and 2014 respectively,
   (b) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the three ships authorized by this section LPD 26 Charleston, LPD 27 Wilmington, and LPD 28 Savannah.

§7. Dry cargo ships
   (a) Naming
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the sixth Lewis and Clark class ship T-AKE 6 John W. Powell, the seventh T-AKE 7 William L. Herndon, the eighth T-AKE 8 Robert Gray, the ninth T-AKE 9 Charles Wilkes, the tenth T-AKE 10 Edmund Fanning, and the eleventh T-AKE 11 Charles W. Beebe.
   (b) Cancellation of unneeded ships due to CBG reduction
   The twelfth Lewis and Clark class ship is canceled, and the eleventh shall not be ordered before January 1, 2008 and may be ordered only if a treaty providing for the lease of an Indian Ocean home port for a carrier battle group is not signed by the President by that date.

§8. Double hulled oilers
   (a) Construction
   To permit the retirement of older single hull oilers and bring the Atlasian Navy's takers into compliance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, there is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 each for the construction of thirteen double-hulled versions of the Henry J. Kaiser class oiler as follows:
      (1) 1 tanker is authorized for FY 2007 and $100,000,000 is appropriated for such construction,
      (2) 2 tankers are authorized for FY 2008,
      (3) 2 tankers are authorized for FY 2009,
      (4) 2 tankers are authorized for FY 2010,
      (5) 3 tankers are authorized for FY 2011, and
      (6) 3 tankers are authorized for FY 2012.
   (b) Excess appropriations to be used to pay for dismantling of obsolete oilers
   Appropriations in excess of the purchase price of the oilers acquired pursuant to subsection (a) shall be used to pay for the dismantling in Atlasian shipyards of mothballed single-hulled oilers in excess of mobilization needs.

§9. Destroyers
   The DDX program is ordered suspended with no funds to be paid for further construction of the two lead ships pending a review of needs for destroyers by the Atlasian Navy in light of the reduction of the numbers of carrier battle groups.

§10. Frigates
   The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to reduce the number of frigates in commission to 24 Flight II Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates by no later than September 30, 2008.

§11. Submarines
   (a) Los Angeles class
      (1) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to cancel all refueling of non-VLS Los Angeles class submarines.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to decommission at least two non-VLS Los Angeles class submarines and to enter them in the Ship-Submarine Recycling Program each fiscal year beginning in FY 2008.
   (b) Virginia class
      (1) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the sixth Virgina class submarine SSN 779 New Mexico, the seventh SSN 780 Delaware, and the eighth SSN 781 South Carolina.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to cancel the ninth Virginia class submarine.
   (c) AIP Submarine
      (1) The Senate finds that Atlasia is likely to have a continuing need for submarine patrols in the Persian Gulf and other littoral waters for the foreseeable future and that the use of smaller less-expensive air independent propulsion (AIP) submarines is a more cost effective solution for sustained operations in shallow littoral waters than the use of current SSN's.
      (2) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to acquire at at a total cost of no more than $2,100,000,000 six AIP's similar to the Type U212A of the Deutsche Marine, with 1 to enter commission in in each of FY 2010 through 2015.
      (3) Preference in granting a contract shall be given to construction in Atlasian shipyards, but if the timetable and cost requirements of paragraph (2) can only be met by construction in a foreign shipyard of a NATO ally, the Secretary of External Affairs is directed to enter into a contract with such a shipyard for any or all of the six submarines called for in this subsection.
      (4) The Secretary of External Affairs is directed to name the six submarines called for in this subsection as follows: Torpedo, Numbfish, Skate, Stingray, Manta, and Whipray.


Vote on final passage.


Abstain

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

aye

[Colin]

Aye

[Јas]

Aye

[Brandon H]

Aye

[Ebowed]

The current tally is 4 ayes and 1 abstention.  We need more votes.

[DWPerry]

abstain

[Everett]

Abstain.

[Ebowed]

The bill has enough votes to pass; Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Nay