Lawmakers Delay U.S. Ship Transfers

What appeared to be smooth sailing for the transfer of a dozen U.S. Navy minesweepers to friendly countries ran into rough weather Dec. 7 when Congressional concerns held up the moves.

“We put a halt to it,” said Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi, the incoming Democratic chairman of the House Seapower subcommittee.

The measure to transfer 10 Navy mine ships, amphibious ships and frigates to foreign countries passed the Senate Dec. 7, but Taylor and Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., incoming chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, raised the issue of transferring half the Navy’s Osprey-class coastal minehunters in 2007.

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