NORFOLK – Hampton Roads’ four Congressman are joining forces to try and stop an aircraft carrier from being moved to Mayport, Florida.
The Pentagon recently announced plans to cut $487 from the defense budget over the next ten years. At a time of multi-billion dollar defense cuts, the Congressmen say it’s something the country just can’t afford.
On Thursday, a letter was sent to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta from Republicans Randy Forbes, Scott Rigell, Rob Wittman and Democrat Bobby Scott. It called such a relocation "fiscally irresponsible.”
Norfolk mayor Paul Fraim agrees.
"The Navy can hardly afford the infrastructure that they have today. They can't afford it. Why would you build more infrastructure in Mayport to build a redundant facility to house an aircraft carrier that you already house in Norfolk? Financially, fiscally, it doesn't make any sense," argued Fraim.
The Congressmen's letter does not address recent comments by the Chief of Naval Operations about the need to move an aircraft carrier to San Diego to help meet the nation's new Asia-Pacific defense strategy.
