WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement applauding the full funding for the refueling and overhaul of the USS George Washington in the Fiscal Year 2015 House Appropriations Committee defense spending bill:

“We are pleased the House Appropriations Committee included $789 million for the refueling and overhaul of the USS George Washington – sending yet another clear signal that maintaining an 11-carrier fleet is critical to the defense of our nation. The bipartisan, bicameral support from the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and the House Appropriations Committee demonstrates that we can put partisanship aside to do what’s best for our national security. We look forward to seeing the Senate Appropriations Committee bill in the coming weeks and believe our colleagues will join us in supporting the statutory requirement for an 11-carrier Navy.

“We were, however, disappointed by reductions in commissary benefits in the House Appropriations bill. We continue to believe that structural decisions about pay and benefits changes should be deferred until the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission issues a comprehensive report in February 2015 that takes the preferences of military personnel and their families into account.”