East Central Alabama News

Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Hampton Roads to engage with military officials and industry leaders on improving the quality of life for servicemembers and strengthening the Naval fleet. Joining the delegation were U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-CT), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Rob Wittman (R-VA). The members released the following joint statement.

“This week we visited Hampton Roads, one of many communities across our nation that play a vital role in supporting our national defense, and engaged with the military and industry on two areas vital for military readiness: improving servicemember quality of life and strengthening our Naval fleet.

“Last year, GAO released a report detailing the unacceptable state of unaccompanied military housing. Immediately, the House Armed Services Committee took action in the Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Acts to improve the state of unaccompanied housing for our servicemembers, including exploring privatized unaccompanied housing. During our visit this week, we saw how privatized unaccompanied housing can be utilized in some areas to improve the quality of life for servicemembers living in barracks.

“Over the past year, threats in the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific have demonstrated the need for a strong and capable Naval fleet. During our visit to Naval Station Norfolk, we met with sailors serving on the USS Gerald R. Ford who recently returned from a deployment in the Mediterranean to deter aggression and support Israel’s right to self-defense. We are grateful for their bravery, professionalism, and tireless work to protect our nation and support our allies and partners.

“As we look at the future of our Naval fleet, maintaining a resilient shipbuilding industrial base must be a priority. In Newport News, we met with shipbuilders at Huntington Ingalls Industries to see firsthand how our shipbuilding industrial base is working to support and accomplish that mission.

“We are proud of the House Armed Services Committee’s continued bipartisan work to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers and to strengthen our Navy. The future of our military will depend upon our ability to recruit and retain our nation’s best and brightest so that we may continue to deter aggression and ensure a strong national defense for ourselves as well as our allies and partners.”