Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott has been appointed as the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower for the 119th Congress. This announcement was made by Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Roger Wicker and Ranking Member Jack Reed. Alongside his role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower, Senator Scott will also serve on the Subcommittee on Personnel and the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support.

In a statement, Senator Rick Scott emphasized Florida's strategic importance in seapower readiness, highlighting its 21 military installations and significant Navy and Marine Corps presence. He stated, “Florida is home to 21 military installations, three unified commands, thousands of active-duty service members and millions of veterans. The state plays a strategic role in seapower readiness, including the homeport for many Navy and Marine Corps maritime assets that project power throughout the region and maintain national security."

Senator Scott expressed his commitment to supporting Department of Defense missions related to shipbuilding and submarine manufacturing. He added, "As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee for Seapower and a Navy veteran myself, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to support the missions of the Department of Defense—especially when it comes to shipbuilding and submarine manufacturing to further cement America as the most lethal fighting force in the world."

The responsibilities under Senator Scott’s chairmanship include overseeing Navy planning and operations policy programs as well as Marine Corps planning. His other subcommittee roles involve managing military personnel policies through the Subcommittee on Personnel, which covers aspects like compensation, benefits, health care, and nominations.

Additionally, through his work with the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, he will focus on various aspects such as military training logistics maintenance construction housing contracting acquisition policy business financial management base realignment closure defense energy environmental programs.

Senator Scott concluded by thanking Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Reed for this opportunity: "I will continue working to ensure the Sunshine State America’s national security initiatives our military veterans their families are supported I want thank Chairman Wicker Ranking Member Reed this great honor.”