Kaine Statement on USS Gerald R. Ford Breaking Record for Longest Modern Deployment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on USS Gerald R. Ford breaking the record for the longest carrier deployment since the Vietnam War:

"The sailors of USS Gerald R. Ford said goodbye to their families in Norfolk last June thinking they would be back before the holidays. But after being ordered from the Mediterranean to the coast of Venezuela and then to the Middle East, Ford today broke the record for the longest modern carrier deployment. While I'm grateful for how our sailors have conducted themselves during the last 10 months, this lengthy deployment has taken a serious toll on their mental health and well-being, especially after the recent fire that temporarily left 600 sailors without sleeping berths. They should be home with their loved ones, not sent around the world by a President who acts like the U.S. military is his palace guard. Our servicemembers and their families expect and deserve better from their leaders. I'm going to continue doing all I can to end this war of choice against Iran that has resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers and injury of hundreds more, driven up energy prices, increased regional instability, and made America and our allies less safe."

Ford's deployment has been extended twice. While the carrier is expected to return home in May, it remains possible that it could break the record for longest carrier deployment in U.S. history. Last month, Kaine sent a letter to the Navy raising concerns about Ford's extended deployment, the ship's maintenance and deployment cycle, and the well-being and retention of sailors on the carrier.

Since he took office as a U.S. Senator in 2013, Kaine has been a leading voice in Congress opposing Presidents' use of military force without congressional authorization and has consistently pushed for Congress to reassert itself in matters of war and peace. He has strongly opposed President Donald Trump's unauthorized war in Iran. So far this year, Kaine has helped force three votes in the Senate on War Powers Resolutions to block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces for hostilities against Iran. Senate Republicans have blocked each resolution.

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