Amo Amendments Championing Rhode Island’s Naval Defense Leadership Pass
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of two amendments he offered to the FY25 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. The amendments support and encourage Rhode Island’s premier defense manufacturers like VATN Systems in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and Composite Energy Technologies in Bristol, Rhode Island — national leaders in developing underwater drones for the United States Navy.
“My amendments support good-paying jobs in Rhode Island while bolstering our state’s leadership in national security,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “The Ocean State has always been at the forefront of cutting-edge naval innovation and I’m proud to advance this storied tradition through this year’s appropriations process.”
Full video of Congressman Amo’s remarks HERE.
BACKGROUND
On June 27, 2024, Congressman Amo’s amendments were added to the FY25 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025. The details of the amendments Amo offered are:
Moves $3 million within the Defense-Wide Research Development Test and Evaluation (RDTE) account to develop and enhance the cost and payload capabilities of affordable attritable autonomous underwater vehicles.
Cosponsored by Reps. Trent Kelly (MS-01), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Seth Magaziner (RI-02)
Moves $8 million within the Navy RDTE, Force Protection Advanced Technology for Deployable Additive Manufacturing of Composite Unmanned Undersea Vehicles.
Cosponsored by Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02)
FULL FLOOR REMARKS AS DELIVERED BY CONGRESSMAN AMO
Thank you, Ranking Member McCollum.
Mr. Speaker, I hail from Rhode Island — the Ocean State. We know a thing or two about the sea and protecting our national security.
Unmanned undersea vehicles, or underwater drones, have become increasingly important tool in our national security arsenal.
This technology plays a critical role in Ukraine’s counterattacks against Russia’s naval aggression and helps allies monitor activity throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Underwater drones allow our Navy to conduct dangerous and covert missions without putting American lives directly at risk.
As we look at our Naval inventory, it is clear the United States needs more underwater drones. We need them quickly and we need them affordably.
My amendment in this en bloc encourages the development of additive manufacturing of underwater drones and my other amendment, that will be considered later, encourages the development and enhancement of the payload capabilities of underwater drones.
Our Ocean State is doing excellent work to train workers, develop technology, and produce many of our underwater drones.
I am proud to lead these amendments that will support good-paying jobs in Rhode Island and advance our national security.
I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Thank you Mr. Speaker and I yield back.
