IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 99 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there is a need 

to rebuild the Navy and ensure that it is prepared to engage with 

adversaries around the world through an increased investment in the 

United States naval power. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 5, 2019 

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

Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

there is a need to rebuild the Navy and ensure that 

it is prepared to engage with adversaries around the 

world through an increased investment in the United 

States naval power. 

Whereas the United States naval buildup completed prior to 

World War II was quintessential to the success of the 

Nation and its allies and ensured victory in that and subsequent wars; 

Whereas the Navy has too few platforms to wage warfare in 

the 21st century against a myriad of potential adversaries; 


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•HRES 99 IH 

Whereas adversaries of the United States are increasing the 

sizes of their fleets and building their anti-ship capabilities; 

Whereas the United States must build up the Navy in preparation for this threat; 

Whereas the United States is a maritime nation and must 

maintain a Navy that is capable of deterring and, if necessary, waging war against nation states and non-state 

actors alike with overwhelming force in a swift and decisive manner; 

Whereas the fleet is not sufficiently sized to deter adversaries 

while maintaining continuous presence in contentious regions with deployments of naval forces in regions where 

the United States has demonstrated national interests; 

Whereas readiness concerns that would preclude successful 

engagements against enemies on multiple fronts is unacceptable in today’s global threat environment; 

Whereas given the large forward deployed surface force requirement at any given moment, there is not sufficient 

time for the fleet to address training and material readiness challenges with the current fleet size; 

Whereas the threat the United States faces is growing and 

evolving; 

Whereas China is investing heavily in a naval buildup, and 

President Xi Jinping expects China to be a global power 

by 2050 and is attempting to construct a military to surpass as the United States; 

Whereas since 2016, the Navy has had 18 unsafe or unprofessional encounters with Chinese military forces in the 

Pacific; 


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•HRES 99 IH 

Whereas Russia is also actively modernizing its fleet and increasing military activity in the Arctic; 

Whereas Iran is demonstrating an increase in activity in the 

Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman with 

no indication of de-escalation; 

Whereas the United States is the primary protector of international freedom of navigation laws, which necessitates 

persistent presence in the contested waters of the South 

China Sea, operations to limit piracy off the Horn of Africa, and abiding demonstrations of interest to ensure 

safe commercial transport throughout the world; 

Whereas in response to natural disasters in the United States 

and abroad, the Navy provides crucial support to prevent 

the loss of life and support recovery efforts; and 

Whereas the advantages of maintaining the capability to forward operate around the world is critical to maintaining 

flexibility and agility in today’s evolving battle space: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the need for the Navy to increase 

3 its long-term capabilities and recommends the fol4 lowing force structure by the year 2050— 

5 (A) 12 Ballistic missile submarines; 

6 (B) 100 nuclear powered attack sub7 marines; 

8 (C) 15 aircraft carriers; 

9 (D) 156 Large and small surface combat10 ants; 


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•HRES 99 IH 

1 (E) 8 Polar surface combatants; 

2 (F) 38 Amphibious ships; 

3 (G) 54 Combat Logistics Force ships; 

4 (H) 14 Expeditionary Fast Transports; 

5 (I) 6 Expeditionary Support Base ships; 

6 and 

7 (J) 23 Command and support ships; 

8 (2) recognizes the need for yearly updates from 

9 the Secretary of the Navy to Congress on ship10 building and status of the fleet; and 

11 (3) recognizes that shipbuilding most continue 

12 to be commensurate to the threat, therefore constant 

13 innovation and analysis will be required when deter14 mining construction schedule and requirements. 

Æ 


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