,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #gjj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(            
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #bb1 #bjai    
,mr4 ,conaway introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2  
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,arm$   
,s]vices  ,a ,,bill  ,to increase !     
numb] ( op]ational aircraft c>ri]s ( !  
,navy1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort     
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! #ab     
,c>ri] ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds 
! foll[+3  7#a7 ,! aircraft c>ri] c     
fulfill ! ,navy's core missions ( =w>d  
pres5ce1 sea control1 ensur+ safe sea   
lanes1 & p[] projection z well z provid+
 flexibility & v]satility to execute a  
wide range ( additional missions4  7#b7 
,=w>d airp[] is integral to ! security &
 jo9t =ces op]ations ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 
,c>ri]s play a c5tral role 9 deliv]+    
=w>d airp[] f sov]eign t]ritory ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates 9 bo? p]missive &         
nonp]missive environm5ts4  7#c7         
,aircraft c>ri]s provide our ,nation !  
ability to rapidly & decisively respond 
to national ?reats1 z well z conduct+   

worldwide1 on-/ation diplomacy & provid+
 det]r5ce aga9/ ?reats to ! ,unit$      
,/ates allies1 p>tn]s1 & fri5ds4  7#d7  
,s9ce ! end ( ! cold w>1 aircraft c>ri] 
deploym5ts h increas$ :ile ! aircraft   
c>ri] =ce /ructure has decl9$4  7#e7    
,consid]+ ! increas$ array ( complex    
?reats across ! globe1 ! ,navy aircraft 
c>ri] is op]at+ at maximum capacity1    
increas+ deploym5t l5g?s & decreas+     
ma9t5ance p]iods 9 ord] to meet         
op]ational requirem5ts4  7#f7 ,to meet  
global peacetime & w>time requirem5ts1 !
 ,navy has indicat$ a requirem5t to     
ma9ta9 two aircraft c>ri]s deploy$      
ov]seas & h ?ree additional aircraft    
c>ri]s capable ( deploy+ )9 #ij days4   
,h[ev]1 ! ,navy has indicat$ t ! exi/+  
aircraft c>ri] =ce /ructure _c support  
^! milit>y requirem5ts4  7#g7 ,despite !
 requirem5t to ma9ta9 an aircraft c>ri] 
/rike gr\p 9 bo? ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,c5tral
 ,comm& & ,unit$ ,/ates ,pacific ,comm&1
 ! ,navy has be5 unable to g5]ate       
suffici5t capacity to support our       

combatant comm&]s & has develop$        
significant c>ri] gaps 9 ^! critical    
areas4  7#h7 ,because ( cont9u+ use ( a 
dim9i%$ aircraft c>ri] =ce /ructure1    
ext5sive ma9t5ance availabilities result
 :i* typically exce$ program co/s &     
increase "t 9 %ipy>ds4 ,^! expansive    
ma9t5ance availabilities exac]bate exi/+
 c>ri] gaps4  7#i7 ,because ( ma9t5ance 
ov]haul ext5sions1 ! ,navy is truncat+  
basic aircraft c>ri] tra9+ to exp$ite ! 
deploym5t ( available aircraft c>ri]s4  
,limit+ aircraft c>ri] tra9+ decreases  
op]ational capabilities & increases     
sailor risk4  7#aj7 ,! ,navy has adopt$ 
a two-phase acquisition /rategy = !     
,u4,s4,s4 ,john ,f4 ,k5n$y 7,,cvn-#gi71 
an action t w delay ! introduction ( ?is
 aircraft c>ri] by up to two ye>s1      
exac]bat+ exi/+ c>ri] gaps4  7#aa7      
,develop+ an alt]native design to !     
,=d-class aircraft c>ri] is n co/       
b5eficial4 ,a small] design is project$ 
to incur significant design & eng9e]+   
co/ :ile significantly r$uc+ magaz9e    

size1 c>ri] air w+ size1 sortie rate1 & 
on-/ation effectiv5ess among o!r vital  
factors :5 comp>$ to ! ,=d class4       
,fur!rmore1 a new design w delay !      
introduction ( future aircraft c>ri]s1  
exac]bat+ exi/+ c>ri] gaps & ?reat5+ !  
national security ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4    
#c4 ,increase 9 numb] ( op]ational      
aircraft c>ri]s ( ! ,navy  7a7 ,increase
 ,section #hjfb7;b7 ( title #aj1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by /rik+ #aa     
op]ational aircraft c>ri]s & ins]t+ #ab 
op]ational aircraft c>ri]s4  7b7        
,effective date ,! am5dm5t made by      
subsection 7a7 %all take effect on      
,septemb] #cj1 #bjbc4