Gene Taylor supports $550 billion defense bill

Sun Herald - Taylor supports defense bill

U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis, is a booster for the $550 billion defense authorization bill the House approved last week and for good reason — it includes billions for Navy shipbuilding that will help the Gulf Coast.

But the bill also has a provision with a distinctly local flavor — an investigation into the Armed Forces Retirement Home beachfront land deal that involves Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr.

The bill makes a major step in getting the Navy to a fleet size of 313 by authorizing funds for 18 ships — eight new ships; three under construction; and seven in the pipeline. The fleet is now at 287 ships.

Taylor is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee and has been concerned about building up the size of the Navy’s fleet.