U. S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told a group of legislative and business leaders Monday that there will be a great business opportunity for Virginia as the country gradually ramps up the number of Naval aircraft carriers and ships to 355 during the next 15 years.
“We’re in the high 270s now,” he said, describing the size of the Naval fleet. “So much of that work will be done in Virginia. The commitment was in the defense bill that we just got done and that the president signed. But building up isn’t going to be easy or immediate,” Kaine added during a keynote speech for the annual meeting of the Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education (VAFREE), held at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond.
Nearly 350 people turned out for the meeting and luncheon. Kaine was referring to President Donald Trump’s action on Dec. 12, when he signed a $700 billion defense budget into law, known as the National Defense Authorization Act. It requires special legislative action to fund new priorities, including $26.2 billion for 14 new ships, $5.9 billion for Virginia-class submarines and $4.4 billion for aircraft carriers.
