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.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 572
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-10: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-08-07T18:45:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 572) expresses the non-binding opinion of the U.S. House of Representatives that Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, should continue as a vital hub for the Navy's carrier-based strike fighter operations. It urges the Navy to base F-35C Lightning II aircraft squadrons there as part of its modernization efforts, emphasizing balanced operations across both U.S. coasts.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes several "whereas" clauses outlining background and rationale, followed by four specific recommendations in the "Resolved" section:
- Dual-coast basing strategy: The Secretary of the Navy should keep F-35C squadrons on both the East and West Coasts to support global operations, redundancy, and readiness.
- Designation of NAS Oceana: NAS Oceana should receive F-35C squadrons under the Navy's strike fighter modernization plan.
- Reporting to Congress: The Secretary must provide Congress with a detailed timeline and plan for integrating F-35C squadrons at NAS Oceana, covering infrastructure upgrades (military construction), pilot training, and transition support.
- Avoiding west coast consolidation: Future decisions on bases and funding should prevent over-concentration of assets on the West Coast, which could weaken East Coast aviation capabilities and strategic flexibility.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a sense-of-the-House resolution, which means it is not legally binding and does not amend or create new laws. It serves as a formal statement of congressional intent but does not directly alter statutes, budgets, or Navy policies. Any influence would come through political pressure or future appropriations processes.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The Navy and Department of Defense may face increased congressional scrutiny on basing decisions, potentially affecting budgeting for aircraft deployment, training, and base infrastructure. This could delay or redirect plans to consolidate F-35C squadrons at NAS Lemoore in California.
- On citizens: Local communities near NAS Oceana, including Virginia Beach residents, could benefit from sustained jobs, economic activity from military operations, and preserved training facilities. East Coast residents might see improved national defense readiness without straining logistics for Atlantic Fleet deployments.
- On international relations: Minimal direct impact, but it supports U.S. naval strategy for global operations, potentially enhancing responsiveness to allies in the Atlantic region by maintaining balanced strike fighter capabilities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Navy and Department of Defense: Primary decision-makers on aircraft basing and modernization.
- Congressional Armed Services Committee: Receives the urged report and oversees related funding.
- Representatives from Virginia: Sponsors (Mrs. Kiggans and Mr. Wittman) and local stakeholders pushing for East Coast priorities.
- Local communities and workforce: Virginia Beach area, including base personnel, contractors, and businesses reliant on NAS Oceana's operations.
- Other Navy bases: Such as NAS Lemoore in California, where consolidation might be limited to avoid imbalance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a non-binding resolution, it has no enforceable power but could inform executive branch actions under the Constitution's allocation of military oversight to Congress (Article I, Section 8). It aligns with congressional authority over defense appropriations without creating new obligations.
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's role in shaping military strategy through resolutions and funding, potentially checking executive decisions on resource allocation.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support for regional military interests (sponsored by Virginia Republicans), which could influence defense debates, budget negotiations, and elections in affected areas. It underscores tensions between coastal basing equity and operational efficiency in national defense planning.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-10: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-07-10: Submitted in House
- 2025-07-10: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- 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. — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (3 pages)