Luria Honored With Navy Legislative Advocacy Award

WASHINGTON — Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., has been honored for her leadership in advocating for a stronger U.S. Navy by the nonprofit Association of the United States Navy.

Luria, a former Navy ship commander, has pushed for a larger and better-funded Navy since taking office in 2019.

She made headlines earlier this year after telling attendees at the Surface Navy Association’s annual meeting that despite her efforts, the Navy “doesn’t really come to us with a strategy” that lawmakers can support with funding.

Luria and many others last year argued that after saying the Navy should be shooting for a 355-ship fleet, Navy leaders put forward a budget that would reduce the fleet further from 296 ships.

That budget plan also called for building just one new destroyer. In the end, Congress rejected that plan and called for three new destroyers.

“We all know in this room that the only ships that are built on time, on budget, on schedule right now are DDGs [destroyers], so why would we only request to build one?” Luria said at the Surface Navy Association meeting, according to Military Times.

The Association of the United States Navy is a leading proponent of a strong Navy, and the largest advocacy association for the Navy and current and former sailors.

“As a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and 20-year Navy veteran, it is a privilege to be recognized by the Association of the United States Navy. I’m grateful to the AUSN for their work in supporting our Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and Merchant Mariners here at home and abroad,” Luria said as she accepted the association’s award.

“I will continue to put the needs of the military and Navy at the forefront of my work in Congress, including ensuring that the Navy is well-funded to deter the threats we face and strengthen our national security,” she said.

Luria represents Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she is the committee’s vice chair, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, where she serves as chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee and the House Committee on Homeland Security.

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