To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the naval forces of the Navy to include not less than 12 operational aircraft carriers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 304--the Aircraft Carrier End Strength Act. Recently, in a last ditch effort to reach OMB budgetary goals, the Department of the Defense approved drastic cuts in the Navy's Fiscal Year 2006 budget. Only one of these cuts is both operationally unsound AND irreversible . . . that is the reduction in the Navy's fleet of aircraft carriers from twelve to eleven.

This decision was not made by the military and policy experts who are now working on the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). This irreversible decision was made by budget crunchers looking to reduce the budget topline without considering all of the operational impacts. Congress has worked hard to re-build our national defense architecture and now is not the time to retreat. That is why I have introduced legislation, H.R. 304, which will ensure that the Navy maintains their current minimum requirement of twelve aircraft carriers.

Just last year, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Vern Clark, stated; ``Aircraft carrier force levels have been set at 12 ships as a result of fiscal constraints; however, real-world experience and analysis indicate that a carrier force level of 15 ships is necessary . . .'' And in 2001, then-Vice Admiral Timothy J. Keating stated, ``The United States needs 15 carriers to provide continuous combat-credible sovereign presence in each area of responsibility. . . . The United States accepts a risk by leaving areas of the world uncovered at times.''

Over the last few years, Congress has heard a consistent message from the Department of Defense--the important tactical missions accomplished in Afghanistan and Iraq would not have been possible without our fleet of aircraft carriers. Aircraft carriers are in constant demand all over the globe and there is no technology that will allow them to be in two places at the same time. In the face of terrorist threats and other dangers that this nation is facing and with the proven operational need of aircraft carriers, now is not the time for the Navy to contemplate decreasing the number of aircraft carriers available for our national security strategy.

Please support H.R. 304--the Aircraft Carrier End-Strength Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on H.R. 304, a bill I introduced in the name of national security. This bill would set in law a requirement that our United States Navy maintain a fleet of at least twelve aircraft carriers.

Why, my colleagues might ask, is this change in law necessary? I believe the reason is clear. Our Nation is enduring an extraordinary amount of pressures, both financially and militarily. Somehow, Mr. Speaker, those financial pressures have weighed so heavy on our military leaders that they feel forced to propose a reduction in the number of carriers available to our Commander in Chief.

Mr. Speaker, the military might of the United States is unmatched. It is unmatched, Mr. Speaker, because no other Nation faces the challenges we face. And that is why I have introduced this legislation. Our unique challenges require force strength, flexibility, and presence. This is not my lesson; this is the lesson of past military conflicts.

The consistent message from senior Department of Defense leadership is that many of the important tactical missions accomplished in Afghanistan and Iraq would not have been possible without our fleet of aircraft carriers.

Aircraft carriers are in constant demand all over the globe. There is no technology, no way they can be in two places at the same time.

The Navy's CNO himself believes even with the technological advances, quantity has a quality all its own.

So this legislation, H.R. 304, will ensure that our Nation's Commander in Chief has a full fleet of carriers in times of peace, and in times of crisis. My colleagues, I urge you to support H.R. 304, support our carrier fleet, and support keeping the fabric of our national security whole.