{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mcclellan.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclellan-joins-wittman-kiggans-scott-urge-dod-ensure-funding-hampton-roads", "McClellan Joins Wittman, Kiggans, Scott to Urge DoD to Ensure Funding for Hampton Roads Shipbuilding Ecosystem", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Jennifer L. McClellan", "M001227", "mcclellan.house.gov", "mcclellan", "https://mcclellan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) joined Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Virginia Reps. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (VA-03) to urge Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to ensure aircraft carrier procurement funding remains on track.\n\n\u201cNow more than ever, we must do everything to ensure a consistent shipbuilding schedule,\u201d said Congresswoman McClellan. \u201cHampton Roads plays a vital role in supporting the U.S. Navy and supporting America\u2019s national security priorities. I am glad to join my colleagues to urge the Defense Department to ensure the timely procurement of aircraft carriers and other military assets.\u201d\n\n\u201cStable and predictable shipbuilding timelines help to maintain a healthy industrial base ecosystem while providing economic benefits for thousands of Virginians in the greater Hampton Roads region,\u201d said Congressman Wittman. \u201cAny delays in funding for the next Ford\u00ad\u00ad-class carrier would be extremely disruptive to our Navy\u2019s ability to project power and provide for our national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when our nation is facing threats from multiple fronts, it is critical to prioritize our shipbuilding schedule,\u201d said Congresswoman Kiggans. \u201cOur aircraft carriers are the best in the world and the cornerstone of our ability to project power around the globe. Additionally, the shipbuilding industry provides stable, good paying jobs for Hampton Roads and is a major contributor to our local economy and an economic driver for our Commonwealth. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues to urge Secretary Austin to keep our shipbuilding plan on schedule. Any delay would directly impact our national security and that is unacceptable.\u201d\n\n\u201cConsistent Navy procurement schedules for shipbuilding are critical to ensuring that Hampton Roads\u2019 shipbuilders and our industrial base as a whole are supported,\u201d said Congressman Scott. \u201cUncertainty in the production line leads to uncertainty in our national security capabilities, and I remain committed to ensuring reliable funding for the Ford-class and our nation\u2019s entire shipbuilding program.\u201d\n\nThe Virginia delegation members also touted the more than $5 billion in cost savings and stability that multi-ship buys would generate for the Navy and the shipbuilding industrial base.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mcclellan.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclellan-joins-wittman-kiggans-scott-urge-dod-ensure-funding-hampton-roads"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3931379653513432, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}