I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7695 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to prescribe the minimum number 
of operational amphibious battle force ships that must be included in 
the combat forces of the Navy, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 10, 2022 
Mr. WITTMAN (for himself and Mr. COURTNEY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to prescribe the 
minimum number of operational amphibious battle force 
ships that must be included in the combat forces of 
the Navy, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. MINIMUM NUMBER OF AMPHIBIOUS BATTLE 
FORCE SHIPS IN THE COMBAT FORCES OF 
THE NAVY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The amphibious warfare ship force struc-
ture of the Navy must be maintained at 31, com-
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posed of 10 amphibious assault ships general-pur-
pose and multi-purpose, and 21 amphibious trans-
port dock types, in order to meet global commit-
ments. 
(2) Amphibious warfare ships provide fleet com-
manders and joint force commanders with credible 
deterrence, support active campaigning strategies, 
and offer an option for the rapid aggregation of for-
ward, tailored, and ready forces to respond to crisis 
and conflict. 
(3) Due to their utility across the spectrum of 
competition and conflict, including substantial deter-
rent value during periods of uncertainty, amphibious 
warfare ships are one of the assets most requested 
by combatant commanders. 
(4) A single three-ship amphibious ready group 
formation with an embarked Marine Expeditionary 
Unit provides over 2,000 sailors and marines, 5th 
generation fighters, helicopters, tiltrotor aircraft, 
anti-air capabilities, lethal fires, and a suite of sen-
sor and communication systems that provide fleet 
and joint force commanders with tailored options 
that support naval expeditionary and joint force 
campaigns. 
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(5) Amphibious-based forces employ these capa-
bilities from sovereign territory aboard ship, without 
the need for overseas basing, as such these forces 
provide a unique and consequential offering to the 
joint force. 
(6) Reductions in amphibious warfare ship pro-
curement profile and decommissioning plans that re-
sult in less than the proscribed composition of 31 
amphibious ships will negatively impact the ability of 
the Navy to execute distributed maritime operations; 
combatant commanders’ access to a flexible, nimble, 
and capable force; and the Nation’s ability to force 
project. 
(7) Strategic global competition will continue to 
require the need for forward postured, combat cred-
ible, strategically maneuverable forces, capable of op-
erating across a range of missions and threat envi-
ronments—amphibious warfare ships are critical to 
providing this capability. 
(b) MINIMUM REQUIREMENT.—Section 8062 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) 
as subsections (d) through (g), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
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‘‘(c) The naval combat forces of the Navy shall in-
clude not less than 31 operational amphibious battle force 
ships (as defined in section 8671(d) of this title). For pur-
poses of this subsection, an operational amphibious battle 
force ship includes such a ship that is temporarily unavail-
able for worldwide deployment due to routine or scheduled 
maintenance or repair.’’. 
Æ 
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