U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will head to the Gulf Coast on Thursday for a congressional fact-finding trip focused on Navy shipbuilding and Coast Guard shipbuilding and operations. U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (MS-04) and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (MO-04) are leading the trip, which includes Larsen and other members of the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee and members of the Coast Guard and Maritime Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
“As we work to bring more assets to Naval Station Everett, it’s important to understand the assets being built,” said Larsen. “This fact-finding trip is a great opportunity to learn about the latest Navy shipbuilding technology, which is important to the men and women serving at Naval Station Everett and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
“As Northwest Washington’s shipbuilding industry continues to grow, touring some of the premier shipyards in the country will help me better support this important part of our local economy.
“This fact-finding trip also provides an opportunity to view Coast Guard assets and learn about the Coast Guard’s work to turn the troubled Deepwater program around, as well as the Coast Guard’s ongoing efforts to rebuild and improve their operations after Hurricane Katrina,” concluded Larsen, who is a member of both the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.
The trip will begin with a visit to the Austal Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama on Thursday afternoon to discuss the progress of the Littoral Combat Ship currently under construction there. Friday, Larsen and his colleagues will tour the Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi and the Avondale Shipyard in Louisiana. Saturday, the delegation will visit the Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in New Orleans, Louisiana.
To schedule an interview with Congressman Larsen about this trip, please contact Amanda Mahnke at Amanda.mahnke@mail.house.gov.
