WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee today questioned U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis during a hearing on the budget for the Department of Defense.

“Mr. Secretary, the SHIPS Act makes the 355-ship Navy the official policy of the United States of America. This enacts in statute a requirement that came down to us from the admirals and generals, not something that we arrived at here at the congressional level,” said Wicker. “In terms of getting there, the target date (to reach 355 ships) was an unacceptable period in the 2050s. Recently, a decision was made to extend the lives of some destroyers that moves it to the 2030s. What do you need from us and what are the plans at the Pentagon for moving that date even earlier?”

Mattis responded that he would support an expedited shipbuilding schedule with more resources from Congress. “I believe we are moving toward a more maritime strategy in terms of our military strategy to defend the country. It is the nature of our time, so I would be supportive if the Senate found a way to increase the shipbuilding budget,” said Mattis.

Wicker also questioned Mattis about the readiness of the United States to defend allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltics against Russia.

“I believe we do have a competitive advantage today - it’s important we expand it over the Russians,” said Mattis. “America is more capable than any nation of expanding the competitive space against something like a ground attack into the Baltics. And there are a number of ways, symmetrical and asymmetrical, we can make this a very, very tough problem for the Russians.”

As Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, known as the Helsinki Commission, Wicker is a leader in efforts to counter Russian aggression.