WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, attended a commissioning ceremony on Saturday in Norfolk, Va., for the nation’s newest aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford. President Donald Trump spoke at the event.

“The U.S.S. Ford is a testament to the greatness of American shipbuilding and our naval forces,” Wicker said. “A strong Navy projects American power and secures our nation’s interests around the globe. I look forward to working with President Trump to add even more ships to the fleet, enabling us to meet the diverse national security challenges that we face.”

During the ceremony, President Trump said: “For years, our government has subjected the military to unpredictable funding and a devastating defense sequester. This has led to deferred maintenance, a lack of investment in new equipment and technology, and a shortfall in military readiness.  In other words, it has been a very, very bad period of time for our military.  That is why we reached a deal to secure an additional $20 billion for defense this year, and why I asked Congress for another $54 billion for next year.  Now we need Congress to do its job and pass the budget that provides for higher, stable, and predictable funding levels for our military needs that our fighting men and women deserve.”

Wicker is leading efforts in the Senate to build a larger Navy, increasing the current fleet of 275 ships to 355 ships, which is in line with the Navy’s force requirement. Last month, Wicker successfully added his “SHIPS Act” proposal to the FY2018 “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA). The bicameral, bipartisan “SHIPS Act,” introduced with Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., would make it the policy of the United States to achieve the Navy’s requirement of a 355-ship fleet.