Virginia's U.S. senators wants Congress to do more to help the Navy keep its fleet ship-shape.
Democrats Jim Webb and Mark Warner, along with eight other senators, released a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging $425 million to erase a shortfall in the Navy's ship depot maintenance and repair budget.
"If this requirement is not funded . . . we are deeply concerned that the Navy's near-term readiness and long-term fleet sustainment will be placed at greater risk," the senators said.
The Obama administration's proposed budget includes only $155.1 million for ship maintenance and emergency repairs.
The letter was sent to Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye of Hawaii and the committee's ranking Republican, Thad Cochran of Mississippi.
In addition to Warner and Webb, it was signed by seven other Democrats and an independent.
They are Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, Maria Cantwell of Washington, Patty Murray of Washington, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Mark Begrich of Alaska, Roland Burris of Illinois, Kay Hagen of North Carolina and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.
Lieberman is an independent who caucuses with Democrats. -- Jeff E. Schapiro
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