WASHINGTON --  U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Defense announced it would defer the decision on whether to homeport an aircraft carrier in Mayport, Florida, pending a complete review of the issue during the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR).  

“This is a promising development for the taxpayers and for the Navy, and I am pleased the Pentagon has agreed with our request to focus on the fiscal and strategic realities of building an extra nuclear carrier facility at Mayport.  

“When I recently met with the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commander of the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command, I asked that the homeporting decision be delayed until the 2010 review.  Today’s decision reflects a Pentagon that is now being guided by fiscal and strategic priorities.

“Senator Webb and I will continue to work with the entire Virginia delegation to make our case for continuing to homeport the Atlantic carrier fleet at Norfolk. “