Lawmakers Visit US Warship so Big It’s a ‘Floating City’

Lawmakers Visit US Warship so Big It's a 'Floating City'

The four NCSL members, calling themselves "Carrier Group One," toured the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that's longer than three football fields.

"NCSL Carrier Group One"-Montana Sen. Barry Usher, from left, Wisconsin Rep. Tyler August, Montana Senate President Matt Regier and Maryland Senate President Pro Tem Malcolm Augustine-on the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. (U.S. Navy)

When the F-35 fighter jet was launched off the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, Montana Sen. Barry Usher (R), standing nearby, could feel it in his bones.

"Once those rocket engines rev up and that thing gets catapulted off, it's just amazing," he says.

Usher was one of four state lawmakers who spent about 24 hours on the warship in the Pacific Ocean. The carrier is one of the Navy's four Nimitz-class nuclear-powered carriers.

"Witnessing firsthand the level of training, coordination and technological prowess that powers our Navy gives me an even greater appreciation for the sacrifices they make every day to protect our nation."

-Wisconsin Rep. Tyler August

Usher and Montana Senate President Matt Regier (R), Maryland Senate President Pro Tem Malcolm Augustine (D) and Wisconsin Rep. Tyler August (D) flew aboard a V-22 Osprey aircraft-which flies "like a plane but takes off and lands like a helicopter," Usher says-from the battleship's home port at the Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego to the carrier.

This was Usher's third time on the carrier; he organized two previous tours for the Young Presidents' Organization, a nonprofit leadership group he belongs to. The NCSL president-elect envisions this as the first of regular tours for NCSL members.

"It was an exceptional experience to see our sailors and aviators train with masterful precision," Augustine says. "I was grateful to meet Marylanders serving our country in various roles with distinction.  To be greeted in primary flight control by a Marylander with a Maryland flag was a tremendous honor."

The lawmakers dubbed themselves "NCSL Carrier Group One" and were briefed by the captain on the operation of the carrier, which is longer than three football fields and can accommodate a crew of about 5,000.

"It's a floating city," Usher says. "There is a post office on board, there's cleaners on board, restaurants, a full hospital. They have chefs on board, and they are very, very proud of the food they put out."

He adds, "They do have a small museum for President Roosevelt on board, and then they talked about how his library is being built right now (in Medora, N.D., set to open July 4, 2026) and that they were there for the groundbreaking."

The NCSL group watched a mass casualty drill on the flight deck: "They had dummies out there, the fire department and EMTs," says Usher, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Regier says his already deep appreciation for the U.S. armed forces only increased after the visit.

"After seeing them in action on the Roosevelt aircraft carrier, I have a newfound respect for all those individuals that make our military a force that every other nation in the world would be insane to challenge," he says. "They are amazingly talented American men and women."

August agrees, adding, "Witnessing firsthand the level of training, coordination and technological prowess that powers our Navy gives me an even greater appreciation for the sacrifices they make every day to protect our nation. The U.S. Navy remains a cornerstone of our national security, and the Theodore Roosevelt exemplifies the very best of that commitment."

Mark Wolf is a senior editor in NCSL's Communications Division.