The U.S. Navy celebrates its 250th birthday this month, giving us a chance to honor centuries of American sailors. Since before our nation was born, these Americans have set off on the high seas to protect our freedom, security, and prosperity.

As we recognize this milestone, we must admit this: The U.S. Navy is at a crossroads. Our enemies are growing stronger, and they are conspiring against us. Instead of growing to handle this dangerous occasion, the fleet has diminished. The decisions we make now will determine whether sailors have what they need to deter or win future conflicts.

U.S Navy: Worth the Cost

The very creation of the U.S. Navy was a bold bet. Some delegates at the Second Continental Congress were afraid to challenge Great Britain, the world’s preeminent naval power. In 1775, the founders ultimately voted to buy two armed vessels, and the U.S. Navy was born.

In 1776, the Continental Congress topped that gutsy action by unanimously adopting the Declaration of Independence. Boldness has always been the American way. Captain John Paul Jones, known as the “Father of the U.S. Navy,” embodied that courage. When a British officer asked him to surrender, Captain Jones is said to have declared, “I have not yet begun to fight.” During the war of 1812, Captain James Lawrence coined another Navy rallying cry. As he lay mortally wounded, he urged his men: “Don’t give up the ship.”

Throughout the 19th century, the U.S. Navy distinguished itself on the world stage, winning campaigns in Mexico and the Pacific. In the World Wars, we accelerated submarine technology, naval aviation, and shipbuilding. On D-Day, our sailors led the largest amphibious assault in history. They paved the way for the men who stormed the beaches of Normandy and eventually defeated the Axis powers.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union’s fleet posed a significant threat. President Ronald Reagan responded with strength, rapidly expanding our fleet. He sent a clear message to the Soviet Union, which recognized our power and chose peace rather than conflict.

When the Iron Curtain fell, the U.S. Navy emerged as the undisputed master of the world’s oceans. Today, our aircraft carriers and destroyers deter aggression, reassure allies, and guard shipping lanes. When an American submarine strategically breaks the surface, our nearby enemies get a reminder not to oppose U.S. interests.

Celebrate Sailors by Building Ships

However, that security has come under threat. Today, our fleet is fewer than 300 ships. We are over budget and behind schedule on most shipbuilding programs, and at exactly the wrong time. China is rapidly building a fleet to challenge ours.

I serve as the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and I have been working for years to reverse these trends. In the first year of the previous Trump administration, I authored, and the president signed, the SHIPS Act. That law requires the U.S. Navy to maintain a 355-ship fleet. For years, we have struggled to meet that requirement, but momentum is building for a shipbuilding renaissance.

The U.S. Navy has already hit its annual recruiting goal. This summer, I secured $29 billion to help jumpstart the maritime industrial base. The United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States are working together to build submarines for Australia, which will help deter China. I am currently negotiating this year’s national defense bill, which will continue investing in shipbuilding.

The founders’ naval bet paid off, as did President Reagan’s investment. It is time our generation made one of our own. There is no better way to celebrate our Navy’s 250th birthday than by building the ships it needs for the mission.