§ 8690. Limitation on length of overseas forward deployment of naval vessels

• (a) The Secretary of the Navy shall ensure that no naval vessel specified in subsection (b) that is listed in the Naval Vessel Register is forward deployed overseas for a period in excess of ten years. At the end of a period of overseas forward deployment, the vessel shall be assigned a homeport in the United States.
• (b) A naval vessel specified in this subsection is any of the following:
  • (1) Aircraft carrier.
  • (2) Amphibious ship.
  • (3) Cruiser.
  • (4) Destroyer.
  • (5) Frigate.
  • (6) Littoral Combat Ship.
• (c) The Secretary of the Navy may waive the limitation under subsection (a) with respect to a naval vessel if the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees notice in writing of—
  • (1) the waiver of such limitation with respect to the vessel;
  • (2) the date on which the period of overseas forward deployment of the vessel is expected to end; and
  • (3) the factors used by the Secretary to determine that a longer period of deployment would promote the national defense or be in the public interest.