Florida lawmakers want the Navy to move an aircraft carrier from Norfolk to Mayport, Florida three years earlier than planned.
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw wrote Navy Secretary Ray Mabus Monday asking him to
move a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to northeast Florida in the 2016 fiscal year.
Norfolk is the only home port for five aircraft carriers on the East Coast. Defense officials say that's a national security concern, citing threats of terrorism and natural disasters.
Virginia lawmakers say the move is fiscally irresponsible.
In their letter, the Florida lawmakers cite a recent Government Accountability Office report that says moving a carrier to Florida would cost less than half of what the Navy estimated it would.
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