Vice President Mike Pence told hundreds at the Newport News Shipbuilding yard Saturday morning that his presence at the christening of the submarine Indiana was a sign of the president’s commitment to defense.

“Today marks the 100th day since President Donald Trump took his oath of office, and I took mine,” Pence, an Indiana native, said. “He sent me here today on this historic occasion as a sign of his deep commitment to the armed forces of the United States of America; and to his commitment to make the strongest fighting force in the world even stronger still.”

The vice president said Trump will increase defense spending in the next year to historic levels, and told the Navy sailors, officers, and their families and friends that they have the president’s gratitude.

Hundreds, including U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley and Matt Mulherin, the president of Newport News Shipbuilding, gathered at the shipyard Saturday to witness the official christening of the $2 billion boat. Construction on the 377-foot long structure began in September 2012, and was done by the Newport News yard, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, and General Dynamics Electric Boat. The 16th Virginia-class attack submarine is armed with MK-48 torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles, and can be submerged for three months at a time, according to the event’s program.

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