IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1173 

Encouraging the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy 

to enter into an international joint-build, cost-sharing program for the 

next generation nuclear-powered fast attack submarine program, and 

encouraging the Department of the Navy to maximize the utility of 

autonomous underwater vehicles. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 10, 2018 

Mr. CONAWAY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the Department of Defense and the Department 

of the Navy to enter into an international joint-build, 

cost-sharing program for the next generation nuclearpowered fast attack submarine program, and encouraging 

the Department of the Navy to maximize the utility 

of autonomous underwater vehicles. 

Whereas according to the National Defense Strategy, ‘‘. . . 

an increasingly complex global security environment, 

characterized by overt challenges to the free and open 

international order and the re-emergence of long-term, 

strategic competition between nations. These changes require a clear-eyed appraisal of the threats we face, acknowledgement of the changing character of warfare, and 


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•HRES 1173 IH 

a transformation of how the Department conducts business.’’; 

Whereas according to the National Defense Strategy, one defense objective is ‘‘. . . ensuring common domains remain open and free’’; 

Whereas the undersea domain is vital to national security and 

freedom of the seas; 

Whereas the ability of the United States to protect its national security in the undersea domain is in increasing 

jeopardy; 

Whereas former Combatant Commander of the United States 

Indo-Pacific Command Harry Harris said before Congress in 2018, ‘‘Potential adversary submarine activity 

has tripled from 2008 levels, requiring an increase of 

U.S. activity to maintain undersea superiority’’; 

Whereas the Navy does not have enough nuclear-powered fast 

attack submarines (commonly known as ‘‘SSNs’’) to fulfill national security requirements today; 

Whereas United States Los Angeles class SSNs are being retired in a larger number than the current Virginia class 

replacement due to budget and build limitations; 

Whereas former Combatant Commander of the United States 

Indo-Pacific Command Harry Harris said before Congress in 2018, ‘‘This growth of regional submarine fleets, 

and increasing demand from other Combatant Commands for SSNs, will challenge the Joint Force to address our SSN requirements in the decade ahead. The 

SSN imbalance will only be aggravated as the global U.S. 

Navy SSN inventory drops and submarines are retired 

faster than replacements are constructed.’’; 


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•HRES 1173 IH 

Whereas the number of SSNs will continue to decline to a 

projected minimum of 42 in 2028; 

Whereas the Navy will not reach the stated inventory SSN 

requirement of 66 until 2048; 

Whereas according to the fiscal year 2019 shipbuilding plan, 

to reach the goal of 66 SSNs, the Navy will begin to purchase the SSN(X) far in the future, in 2034; 

Whereas according to the Congressional Budget Office, the 

projected cost of each SSN(X) according to certain requirements will be $5,500,000,000 per submarine; 

Whereas Congress supports the Navy’s design goal in the 

Tactical Submarine Evolution Plan of a ‘‘fast, lethal, 

next-generation attack submarine’’; 

Whereas Congress has significant concerns regarding declining SSN inventory numbers and its adverse implication 

for national security; 

Whereas Congress has significant concerns regarding 

SSN(X)’s future cost projections and the impact on other 

Navy budget programs; 

Whereas to fill a growing national security need, Congress believes new, innovative ideas must be pursued in order to 

offset SSN costs and build constraints while growing the 

SSN fleet to adequate numbers; 

Whereas the Navy is developing a nascent extended range unmanned vehicle and plans to award a contract for the 

first five vessels in fiscal year 2019; 

Whereas a key objective of the National Defense Strategy is 

‘‘defending allies from military aggression and bolstering 

partners against coercion, and fairly sharing responsibilities for common defense’’; and 


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•HRES 1173 IH 

Whereas the National Defense Strategy states ‘‘mutually beneficial alliances and partnerships are crucial to our strategy, providing a durable, asymmetric strategic advantage 

that no competitor or rival can match’’: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) encourages the Department of Defense and 

3 the Department of the Navy to enter into an inter4 national joint-build, cost-sharing program for the 

5 next generation nuclear-powered fast attack sub6 marine program (commonly known as SSN(X)) 

7 along the following guidelines: 

8 (A) In partnership with the nations of 

9 Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the 

10 United Kingdom. 

11 (B) To initiate, develop, agree, and enter 

12 into such a program before the termination of 

13 fiscal year 2021 in order to begin to build at 

14 the soonest possible time; and 

15 (2) encourages the Department of the Navy to 

16 maximize the utility of autonomous underwater vehi17 cles as a method to augment capabilities, reduce re18 quirements, and reduce costs associated with 

19 SSN(X). 

Æ 


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