FACT CHECK: Mike France Makes False Claims on Joe Courtney's Record on Subs
Egzon Balidemaj
As you cover the race in the final weeks up to the election, we wanted to make sure you have the most accurate information about this issue.
Egzon Balidemaj
Communications Director
Courtney for Congress
FACT CHECK: CORRECTING MIKE FRANCE’S FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT SUBMARINE PRODUCTION
CLAIM
"It's interesting when you look at it because that announcement was made about five months after he was sworn in, in June of 2007. So I'm not certain what he did as a brand-new freshman Congressman for five months to all of a sudden get two subs per year. The reality is that the foundation was laid, once again, by Rob Simmons. And in fact, it was funded in the House in 2006 that was changed and ultimately it was announced a year later. But Joe Courtney didn't do anything, frankly.” Mike France, Lee Elci--the Voice of Freedom 9/30/22
FACT: Two Submarines A Year Was NOT Funded In 2006
In 2006, the Navy’s plan was to begin building two Virginia class submarines a year starting in 2012 at the earliest. That year, Congress passed the FY2007 Defense Authorization Act which authorized an increase to the Virginia class program of $400 million. That increase, however, was not matched with funding in the separate defense appropriations bill - not in the House-passed version nor in the final law, both of which matched the budget request without any additions.
From the FY2007 Defense Appropriations Act (PL 109-289)
Without funding, it was a hollow authorization that had no impact on the Navy’s plans or budget. That was evidenced in February 2007, when the Navy released its budget request that included funding only for one submarine in 2008 and advanced funding for one submarine a year in 2009 and 2010, and indicated that their plan remained to begin two a year in 2012 at the earliest.
“Freshman Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) came to Congress this year with one obsession: getting more money for attack submarines, a staple of significant employment in his district. What his predecessor, Rob Simmons (R), fought hard to achieve but failed to deliver, Courtney — known as "Landslide Joe" since his 83-vote win over Simmons — can now claim as a victory…When Simmons was on the Armed Services panel, he was able to secure authorization for the advance procurement of material to build the second Virginia-class submarine. But appropriators never approved the extra funds.” [The Hill, 12/18/07]
FACT: Joe Courtney Secured Needed Funding In 2007 To Increase Submarine Build Rate
In 2007, when Congressman Courtney came into office, the two-a-year build rate for Virginia Class subs was slated to begin in 2012--too late for EB to maintain its workforce without extensive layoffs. On June 10, 2007, the Washington Post reported: “The inability to get a contract for a second Virginia-class sub annually is much of the reason why Electric Boat has eliminated about 1,400 jobs at its Groton, Conn., plant over the last three years, and why it has plans to eliminate as many as 2,000 more jobs if it doesn't receive a contract to build an additional sub.”
It was in this context that Courtney got to work in 2007. Among other things:
Joe immediately met with key decision makers - House Armed Services Committee chairman Ike Skelton, Seapower Chairman Gene Taylor, and Defense Appropriations Chairman Jack Murtha, among others, to request the authorization and funding needed to start the two-a-year build rate.
He asked for and secured a Seapower Subcommittee hearing on submarine force structure challenges and the need to increase the production of new submarines.
Joe brought Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Murtha to Electric Boat in April 2007, the first time that this important decision maker had been to EB in two decades. After that visit, Murtha said that he “became convinced that we must increase our submarine production, and that we must start immediately.”
The result of these efforts was the Congressional approval of Joe’s request for an additional $588 million in authorized and appropriated funding to increase the submarine production rate - this was the first time that additional submarine funding was authorized and appropriated in law.
Following this outcome, in December 2008 the Navy and EB signed the multiyear procurement contract that used the $558 million to lock in the two sub production rate starting in 2011.
FACT: Joe’s Work On Submarine Funding Was Extensively Covered
“Freshman U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, has done a good job of keeping the debate alive and building a coalition of support. Courtney has convinced U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, two subs a year is necessary now.” [3/12, 2007, “Proper Defense Demands More Sub Funding” Norwich Bulletin Editorial]
“During the 2006 campaign, Rep. Courtney’s opponent tried to make the case that the Democrat, if elected, would not have the political chops to protect the state’s submarine industry. He has proved that argument was wrong.” [7/27/07, “A Freshman With Chops,” New London Day]
“U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney has pushed this issue further than any congressman from the state. His effort deserves merit.” [8/8/07, “More Subs Make Nation More Secure,” Norwich Bulletin]
“A year ago, when U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney was declared the winner of the 2nd Congressional District race, he acknowledged voters in Eastern Connecticut took a risk in electing him. The issue of electing an inexperienced candidate was a major issue in the closing days of the campaign, and Courtney pledged to go to Washington and prove the voters were right in taking that chance.
“Last week, the freshman lawmaker succeeded in proving his case. Congress approved the 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill with an additional $588 million for lead procurement to begin construction of two Virginia-class nuclear submarines per year beginning in 2010 or 2011. It is an issue that has been discussed for years with little success shown. It is refreshing to see it finally come to resolution.” [11/13/07, “Many Share in Success of Sub Funding,” Norwich Bulletin]
“For years the state’s elected leaders in Congress sought increased funding to double construction of the Virginia-class submarine to two ships per year before 2012, the date planned by the Navy. The election of a Democratic Congress last November, combined with the election of Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney in Connecticut’s 2 nd district, appears to have done the trick.” [10/8/07, New London Day]
“Congress has finally done what it should have done years ago — provide the money to ramp up Virginia-class submarine production to two per year…Freshman Democrat Rep. Joe Courtney deserves credit for pushing the measure through the U.S. House… there is no question Thursday’s vote was a significant victory for national security and for the future of southeastern Connecticut's economy.” [11/10/07, “A Sub- Stantial Victory,” New London Day]
“..a pretty remarkable feat for a freshman congressman to accomplish in such a short time. This is more than just a bone being tossed by his party’s leadership to boost his re-election bid. This is a commitment of billions of dollars in the years to come to maintain a two-per-year construction rate.” [11/13/07, “Many Share in Success of Sub Funding,” Norwich Bulletin]
“A healthy submarine industry in Connecticut is good for the state's economy and the nation's defense. Both will benefit from President Bush's signature this week on the defense appropriations bill, which includes funding to double the number of attack submarines built every year to two…Give much of the credit to Rep. Joe Courtney, whose district includes the Groton submarine base and who inserted the $588 million request in the bill.” [Hartford Courant, Two Submarines a Year, 11/16/07]