Most of the distinguished guests that visit USS Independence, do so when the ship is at sea. Visitors then get a first hand account of shipboard life as the carrier participates in operations and exercises, and while the aircraft are embarked. However, Indy doesn’t have to be underway to welcome honored guests aboard, she is host to many visitors even when the ship is in its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan.
For United States Congressman, Representative Norman Sisisky, a democrat from the 4th District of Virginia, military and Navy life is nothing new to him. Sisisky is a member of the Military Installations and Facilities and Military Readiness Subcommittee, and represents the district which includes the Atlantic Fleet Headquarters and the largest U.S. Naval Base, Norfolk. Having visited many carriers throughout the United States, it was the Indy Sailors, not the equipment he was interested in seeing.
As part of his continuing expansion of knowledge of the permanently forward deployed Naval forces, Sisisky’s tour in Japan included a stop at "Freedom’s Flagship." During his two hour visit, Sisisky had the opportunity to visit with Sailors and answer some questions from those 4th District Sailors who he represents.
Issues he touched on included the continuing struggle for defense financing and budgetary concerns, readiness, training, military health care, commissary funding, and family housing.
"This year alone, we in our Military Readiness subcommittee, have dealt with a 93 billion dollar budget," Sisisky said. "But readiness is more than just training and preparing. Readiness is made up of health care for our active duty personnel and families, on-base housing improvements and expansion, and commissary upgrades."
Sisisky also addressed the issue of "doing more with less." He added that the number one problem for his subcommittee is that there should be more money to take care of the rapid growth of the military, particularly as it relates to procurement.
"One of the major issues we took to the house (of representatives) floor was funding for advanced military weapon systems," added Sisisky. He also noted that since the release of the new F/A-18 ‘Super’ Hornet, his subcommittee had ordered twenty-one, but were cut down to nine. With constant debate, they were able to raise their spending to 60 billion dollars, allowing the purchase of twenty-one planes.
Sisisky’s district starts in Virginia Beach and continues west toward Charlottesville, Va. He has been a member of the House National Security Committee since his election in 1982, and will be promoted to the 2nd ranking member of this committee on Feb. 6, 1998. His most recent interest and areas of focus include the CVN 77 "Smart Buy" and has worked closely with the Secretary of Defense about the importance of getting funding for carrier building programs. He also personally recommended to President Clinton naming the two newest carriers USS Harry S. Truman and USS Ronald Reagan.
His visit concluded with several Virginia Sailors taking part in a photo opportunity. Sisisky will return to his hometown of Virginia Beach for the holidays since congress has adjourned for the year.
Photo Captions:
United States Congressman, Representative Norman Sisisky, is brought aboard USS Independence by the Commanding Officer, Captain Mark Milliken.
Sisisky speaks to native Virginians who are stationed aboard Indy.