Virginia delegation urges retention of 11 aircraft carrier fleet

Both U.S. senators and all 11 representatives from Virginia signed a letter Wednesday expressing their support of the nation's 11 aircraft carrier fleet in advance of the release of the president's fiscal year 2016 budget proposal, expected in early February.

Last year, the Navy talked of retiring the USS George Washington, which is due into Newport News Shipbuilding for its midlife overhaul and refueling in March 2017, if steep budget cuts returned in 2016. But in December, a spending bill included $848.5 million toward the $4 billion project. That covers the cost expected this fiscal year in order to have things started when the carrier comes to the shipyard.

The Virginia delegation wants to make sure those preparations can continue next year, and that starts with the budget President Barack Obama presents next month.

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