JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida's congressional delegation signed a letter Monday and sent it to the secretaries of defense and Navy asking that the Pentagon to fund bringing a aircraft carrier to Naval Station Mayport next year.
Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson and all 27 of the state's U.S. House members urged the U.S. Department of Defense to "fulfill its own recommendation to strategically disperse nuclear aircraft carriers throughout the nation."
Following the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review’s recommendation, the U.S. Navy officially announced its decision to achieve this objective by homeporting a nuclear aircraft carriers at Mayport.
In a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley, the delegation reiterated "the importance of spreading out America’s most important naval asset" sand highlighted Northeast Florida as the most attractive option.
Mayport is in the district of Jacksonville's newly elected congressman, John Rutherford.
"As we begin the important work of rebuilding our military, particularly our Naval fleet, we must make strategic investments in our national defense," Rutherford said. "Mayport is a critical part of the Navy's mission and future, and I am grateful that our state delegation is fully committed to Mayport’s critical role in our national security."
Mayport has not had a carrier since the USS John F. Kennedy was decommissioned in 2007.