Amo Amendments Championing Rhode Island’s Naval Defense Leadership Pass
Congressman Gabe Amo of Rhode Island spoke on the House floor in support of two amendments he introduced to the FY25 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, both aimed at strengthening U.S. capabilities in unmanned undersea vehicles. The amendments, adopted on June 27, 2024, support Rhode Island-based defense manufacturers such as VATN Systems and Composite Energy Technologies, which are leaders in developing underwater drones for the U.S. Navy. Amo emphasized that the measures would reinforce national security while supporting good-paying jobs and continuing Rhode Island’s long-standing role in naval and maritime innovation.
The amendments reallocate a total of $11 million within existing Defense and Navy research and development accounts to advance affordable, attritable autonomous underwater vehicles and deployable additive manufacturing for composite uncrewed undersea systems. In his remarks, Congressman Amo highlighted the growing strategic importance of underwater drones, noting their role in modern conflicts and their ability to conduct dangerous or covert missions without risking American lives. He stressed the need for rapid, cost-effective expansion of the Navy’s undersea drone inventory and underscored Rhode Island’s contributions in workforce training, technology development, and production to meet those national defense needs.