Senators ask for backing of littoral ship program

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, are among six senators urging President Barack Obama to back the construction of 52 littoral combat ships for the U.S. Navy.

The secretary of Defense has directed the U.S. Navy to limit its overall LCS buy to a total of 32 of the small, fast and controversial warships, Pentagon sources said last month.

The Defense Department suggested the cuts based on budget guidance for 2015 from the White House, but they are pending analysis from the Office of Management and Budget.

Marinette Marine Corp. in Marinette is one of two shipyards producing the ships.

“We respectfully urge you to include a plan for the procurement of all 52 ships the Navy has stated it needs to meet the warfighting requirements of the combatant commanders,” the senators said in the letter sent Monday.

Senators from Alabama, Michigan and Mississippi signed the letter, which was sent to the president, secretary of defense, secretary of the Navy and the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

A shipyard in Alabama is building a version of the LCS.