A House Armed Services subcommittee approved two funding measures today pushed by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. In a release, Hanabusa, who is in the minority in the Republican House, stressed her work to get bipartisan support.

One authorizes $70 million in new funding for the Maritime Guaranteed Loan Program, also known as the “Title XI” program. It guarantees commercial loans for privately financed commercial ship construction and shipyard modernization in the United States.

“Private sector capital is needed to inject new life into the American shipbuilding industry,” she said.

The Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces also authorized provisions to procure two Virginia-class subs and prohibits the early retirement of Ticonderoga Class Cruisers. 

“These are important provisions for Hawaii.  Virginia-class subs are the future of Pearl Harbor and our force structure throughout the Pacific.   Two of the cruisers are homeported in Hawaii – the USS Port Royal and USS Chosin.  Hawaii remains at the forefront of U.S. interests in the Pacific, and we have seen over the past several months the importance these ships in deterring threats in the region,” Hanabusa said.

 We must ensure that we are maximizing the full life of our naval assets, while promoting a fleet capable of protecting national security.”

— Kery Murakami