Courtney Announces Hearings on Naval Accidents

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep Joe Courtney (CT-02), the ranking member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, announced that his committee will conduct a joint oversight hearing with the Readiness Subcommittee to examine several recent US Navy accidents when Congress reconvenes in September.

The hearing titled Navy Readiness – Underlying Problems Associated with the USS FITZGERALD and USS JOHN S. MCCAIN is slated for Sept. 7.

“My heart goes out to the families, friends, and shipmates of the US Navy sailors who lost their lives or remain missing after the USS John S. McCain collided with a commercial vessel earlier this week,” Courtney said. “The men and women of the Navy are asked to operate in contested waters each day to protect the national security interests of the United States. We owe it to these sailors to make sure that they have the tools, training, and support they need to carry out their duties safely and successfully.

“I have become increasingly concerned this year by the growing number of accidents including the two fatal collisions this summer involving the USS Fitzgerald and the McCain. While I believe CNO Richardson’s operational pause is a good first step, it is clear that Congress must conduct rigorous oversight into the causes of these incidents and the remedies need to prevent them from happening reoccurring in the future. Our committee will be holding an oversight hearing when Congress reconvenes in September to examine these incidents and review the steps the Navy is taking to ensure the safety of our sailors.”

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