Senate's Move Opens Door For JFK Decommissioning
UPDATED: 2:12 pm EDT May 5,
2006
U.S. Senate approval of a supplemental spending bill late Thursday mostly to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the bill contains an amendment allowing the Navy to decommission the Mayport-based aircraft carrier, the USS John F. Kenney.
The Navy's attempts to retire the JFK were stymied, due to a law championed last year Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Sen. John Warner, R-Va., requiring the Navy to maintain a 12-carrier fleet until six months after the completion of the Quadrennial Defense Review.
Warner has reversed his position and introduced the amendment to the spending bill that would repeal that requirement,paving the way for the JFK to be decommissioned.
In a 92-4 vote, the Senate approved all proposed amendments to the $106.5 billion bill.
The fate of the 38-year-old carrier now rests with the House of Representatives, whose members must give their approval when the two chambers meet in conference to work out the differences between their spending bills.
Final approval still won't happen until the president signs the measure and it becomes law, expected to happen in the next few weeks.
Previous Stories: - March 10, 2006: Crenshaw Disappointed By Navy's Attitude Toward JFK
- August 18, 2005: Top Admiral Says JFK Should Be Retired
- August 9, 2005: Martinez, Crenshaw Tour USS Kennedy, Jacksonville-Area Bases
- May 26, 2005: House Approves 12-Carrier Navy, Funds JFK Next Year
- May 4, 2005: Congress Agrees To Delay Mothballs For USS Kennedy
- April 21, 2005: City, Senate At Odds With Future Of JFK
- April 1, 2005: Navy Cancels Overhaul Of JFK
- March 10, 2005: Navy To Upgrade Mayport For Nuclear Carrier
- February 11, 2005: Top Admiral Agrees That Mayport Needs A Carrier
- January 25, 2005: Sen. Nelson Introduces Bill To Protect USS Kennedy
- January 5, 2005: Florida Lawmakers Fight For JFK
- December 31, 2004: Leaders Fight Pentagon's Plan To Mothball JFK Next Year
Copyright 2006 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.