US Code
CHAPTER 863— NAVAL VESSELS
§ 8690. Limitation on length of overseas forward deployment of naval vessels

(a) Limitation.—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) Vessels Specified.—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) Waiver.—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.

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