•HRES 1173 IH 
a transformation of how the Department conducts busi-
ness.’’; 
Whereas according to the National Defense Strategy, one de-
fense objective is ‘‘. . . ensuring common domains re-
main 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 na-
tional security in the undersea domain is in increasing 
jeopardy; 
Whereas former Combatant Commander of the United States 
Indo-Pacific Command Harry Harris said before Con-
gress 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 ful-
fill national security requirements today; 
Whereas United States Los Angeles class SSNs are being re-
tired 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 Con-
gress in 2018, ‘‘This growth of regional submarine fleets, 
and increasing demand from other Combatant Com-
mands for SSNs, will challenge the Joint Force to ad-
dress 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 pur-
chase 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 re-
quirements 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 declin-
ing 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 be-
lieves 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 un-
manned 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 responsibil-
ities for common defense’’; and 
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•HRES 1173 IH 
Whereas the National Defense Strategy states ‘‘mutually ben-
eficial alliances and partnerships are crucial to our strat-
egy, providing a durable, asymmetric strategic advantage 
that no competitor or rival can match’’: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) encourages the Department of Defense and 
the Department of the Navy to enter into an inter-
national joint-build, cost-sharing program for the 
next generation nuclear-powered fast attack sub-
marine program (commonly known as SSN(X)) 
along the following guidelines: 
(A) In partnership with the nations of 
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the 
United Kingdom. 
(B) To initiate, develop, agree, and enter 
into such a program before the termination of 
fiscal year 2021 in order to begin to build at 
the soonest possible time; and 
(2) encourages the Department of the Navy to 
maximize the utility of autonomous underwater vehi-
cles as a method to augment capabilities, reduce re-
quirements, and reduce costs associated with 
SSN(X). 
Æ 
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