Reps. Derek Kilmer, Rick Larsen, Scott Peters and Scott Rigell have an op-ed in Roll Call supporting the law requiring a minimum of 11 aircraft carriers in the Navy fleet.

“What do four U.S. representatives from three states and two coasts — not to mention two political parties — have in common? We represent the districts that are home to nine of the Navy’s 10 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers: five in Virginia, two in California and two in Washington.”

“With the inactivation of the legendary USS Enterprise (CVN 65) after more than 50 years of service, the carrier fleet has temporarily dipped to 10. (The 10th carrier is forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.) That’s one less than the 11 mandated by law.”