Lawmakers ask Geurts to accelerate LHA-9 in response to COVID-19

The members of Congress representing Virginia in a letter today urged the Navy to accelerate the construction of a new big-deck amphibious ship to mitigate damage to the shipbuilding industrial base during the coronavirus pandemic.

"To ensure a sustained industrial base, development of the LHA-9 acquisition effort and use of the FY-19 LHA-9 advanced procurement monies to accelerate construction of an additional large deck amphibious ship," the letter said, referring to one of several actions for which the lawmakers are seeking Navy support.

The April 17 letter is signed by lawmakers in the House and Senate and addressed to Navy acquisition executive Hondo Geurts.

Lawmakers have previously pressed the Navy to quicken its acquisition of that ship and considered various legislative authorities to do so.