,,iv  #aae? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,h4 ,,res4 #aagc  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(    
,,repres5tatives  ,decemb] #aj1         
#bjah,mr4 ,conaway submitt$ ! foll[+    
resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee
 on ,arm$ ,s]vices  ,,resolution        
,enc\rag+ ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se & !     
,dep>tm5t ( ! ,navy to ent] into an     
int]national jo9t-build1 co/-%>+ program
 = ! next g5]ation nucle>-p[]$ fa/      
attack subm>9e program1 & enc\rag+ !    
,dep>tm5t ( ! ,navy to maximize !       
utility ( autonom\s und]wat] vehicles4  
,:]eas accord+ to ! ,national ,def5se   
,/rategy1 ''' an increas+ly complex     
global security environm5t1 *>act]iz$ by
 ov]t *all5ges to ! free & op5          
int]national ord] & ! re-em]g5ce (      
long-t]m1 /rategic competition betwe5   
nations4 ,^! *anges require a cle>-ey$  
appraisal ( ! ?reats we face1           
ackn[l$gem5t ( ! *ang+ "* ( w>f>e1 & a  
trans=mation ( h[ ! ,dep>tm5t conducts  
bus9ess42 ,:]eas accord+ to ! ,national 
,def5se ,/rategy1 "o def5se objective is

 ''' ensur+ common doma9s rema9 op5 &   
free2 ,:]eas ! und]sea doma9 is vital to
 national security & fre$om ( ! seas2   
,:]eas ! ability ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to   
protect its national security 9 !       
und]sea doma9 is 9 increas+ jeop>dy2    
,:]eas =m] ,combatant ,comm&] ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates ,indo-,pacific ,comm& ,h>ry     
,h>ris said be=e ,congress 9 #bjah1     
,pot5tial adv]s>y subm>9e activity has  
tripl$ f #bjjh levels1 requir+ an       
increase ( ,u4,s4 activity to ma9ta9    
und]sea sup]iority2 ,:]eas ! ,navy does 
n h en\gh nucle>-p[]$ fa/ attack        
subm>9es 7commonly kn[n z ,s,s,ns7 to   
fulfill national security requirem5ts   
today2 ,:]eas ,unit$ ,/ates ,los        
,angeles class ,s,s,ns are be+ retir$ 9 
a l>g] numb] ?an ! curr5t ,virg9ia class
 replacem5t due to budget & build       
limitations2 ,:]eas =m] ,combatant      
,comm&] ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,indo-,pacific
 ,comm& ,h>ry ,h>ris said be=e ,congress
 9 #bjah1 ,?is gr[? ( regional subm>9e  
fleets1 & increas+ dem& f o!r ,combatant

 ,comm&s = ,s,s,ns1 w *all5ge ! ,jo9t   
,=ce to address our ,,ssn requirem5ts 9 
! decade ahead4 ,! ,,ssn imbalance w    
only be aggravat$ z ! global ,u4,s4     
,navy ,,ssn inv5tory drops & subm>9es   
are retir$ fa/] ?an replacem5ts are     
con/ruct$42 ,:]eas ! numb] ( ,s,s,ns w  
cont9ue to decl9e to a project$ m9imum (
 #db 9 #bjbh2 ,:]eas ! ,navy w n rea* ! 
/at$ inv5tory ,,ssn requirem5t ( #ff    
until #bjdh2 ,:]eas accord+ to ! fiscal 
ye> #bjai %ipbuild+ plan1 to rea* ! goal
 ( #ff ,s,s,ns1 ! ,navy w beg9 to       
pur*ase ! ,,ssn7,x7 f> 9 ! future1 9    
#bjcd2 ,:]eas accord+ to !              
,congressional ,budget ,(fice1 !        
project$ co/ ( ea* ,,ssn7,x7 accord+ to 
c]ta9 requirem5ts w be #e1ejj1jjj1jjj p]
 subm>9e2 ,:]eas ,congress supports !   
,navy's design goal 9 ! ,tactical       
,subm>9e ,evolution ,plan ( a fa/1      
le?al1 next-g5]ation attack subm>9e2    
,:]eas ,congress has significant conc]ns
 reg>d+ decl9+ ,,ssn inv5tory numb]s &  
its adv]se implication = national       

security2 ,:]eas ,congress has          
significant conc]ns reg>d+ ,,ssn7,x7's  
future co/ projections & ! impact on o!r
 ,navy budget programs2 ,:]eas to fill a
 gr[+ national security ne$1 ,congress  
believes new1 innovative ideas mu/ be   
pursu$ 9 ord] to (fset ,,ssn co/s &     
build con/ra9ts :ile gr[+ ! ,,ssn fleet 
to adequate numb]s2 ,:]eas ! ,navy is   
develop+ a nasc5t ext5d$ range unmann$  
vehicle & plans to aw>d a contract = !  
fir/ five vessels 9 fiscal ye> #bjai2   
,:]eas a key objective ( ! ,national    
,def5se ,/rategy is def5d+ allies f     
milit>y aggression & bol/]+ p>tn]s aga9/
 co]cion1 & fairly %>+ responsibilities 
= common def5se2 & ,:]eas ! ,national   
,def5se ,/rategy /ates mutually         
b5eficial alliances & p>tn]%ips are     
crucial to our /rategy1 provid+ a       
durable1 asymmetric /rategic advantage t
 no competitor or rival c mat*3 ,n[1    
!re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,h\se (               
,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 enc\rages !      
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se & ! ,dep>tm5t ( !   

,navy to ent] into an int]national      
jo9t-build1 co/-%>+ program = ! next    
g5]ation nucle>-p[]$ fa/ attack subm>9e 
program 7commonly kn[n z ,,ssn7,x77     
along ! foll[+ guidel9es3  7,a7 ,9      
p>tn]%ip ) ! nations ( ,au/ralia1       
,canada1 ,new ,zeal&1 & ! ,unit$ ,k+dom4
  7,b7 ,to initiate1 develop1 agree1 &  
ent] into su* a program be=e ! t]m9ation
 ( fiscal ye> #bjba 9 ord] to beg9 to   
build at ! soone/ possible "t2 &  7#b7  
enc\rages ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,navy to      
maximize ! utility ( autonom\s und]wat] 
vehicles z a me?od to augm5t            
capabilities1 r$uce requirem5ts1 & r$uce
 co/s associat$ ) ,,ssn7,x74