[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 572 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 572

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Naval Air 
 Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, should remain a critical 
component of the future carrier-based strike fighter capability of the 
Navy and receive F-35C squadrons as part of the modernization strategy 
                              of the Navy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 10, 2025

 Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia (for herself and Mr. Wittman) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Naval Air 
 Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, should remain a critical 
component of the future carrier-based strike fighter capability of the 
Navy and receive F-35C squadrons as part of the modernization strategy 
                              of the Navy.

Whereas Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, has served 
        as the East Coast Master Jet Base of the Navy for more than 70 years, 
        supporting the training, readiness, and deployment of carrier-based 
        tactical aviation;
Whereas NAS Oceana provides critical support to Atlantic Fleet carrier strike 
        groups, including squadrons embarked aboard nuclear-powered aircraft 
        carriers based at Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base 
        globally;
Whereas the F/A-18 Super Hornet squadrons currently based at NAS Oceana are 
        nearing the end of their service life and must be replaced by next-
        generation aircraft to maintain operational effectiveness and readiness;
Whereas the F-35C Lightning II, the carrier-variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, 
        represents the future of naval aviation, providing advanced stealth, 
        sensor fusion, and survivability capabilities;
Whereas the future strike fighter basing plan of the Navy must ensure a 
        geographically balanced posture that supports fleet operations from both 
        coasts and aligns with national defense strategy requirements;
Whereas the consolidation of F-35C squadrons solely at Naval Air Station 
        Lemoore, California, would leave the east coast of the United States 
        without fifth-generation carrier-based strike capability and strain 
        deployment timelines and logistics for Atlantic Fleet air wings; and
Whereas NAS Oceana possesses the infrastructure, airspace access, proximity to 
        carrier home ports, and regional workforce necessary to support F-35C 
        operations effectively: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) the Secretary of the Navy should maintain a dual-coast 
        basing strategy for F-35C Lightning II squadrons to support 
        global naval operations and ensure redundancy, responsiveness, 
        and readiness;
            (2) NAS Oceana should be designated to receive F-35C 
        squadrons as part of the strike fighter modernization plan of 
        the Navy;
            (3) the Secretary of the Navy should provide to Congress a 
        detailed timeline and implementation plan for the integration 
        of F-35C squadrons at NAS Oceana, including necessary military 
        construction, training pipelines, and transition support; and
            (4) the Secretary of the Navy should ensure that future 
        military construction and programmatic decisions do not result 
        in disproportionate consolidation on the west coast of the 
        United States that undermines the operational flexibility and 
        strategic value of aviation infrastructure on the east coast of 
        the United States.
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