SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) toured spaces aboard submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) Aug. 29.

The members are visiting facilities on the island of Guam to learn about missile defense, as well as the infrastructure and troop movements coming from Okinawa to Guam.

"This ship is very unique," said Don Bergin, national security advisor and counsel. "Most of the people who look at the Navy probably aren't aware of these kinds of facilities. It's definitely been an educational and eye-opening experience to be able to come out here and see some of the capabilities the Navy has to keep our fleet operational, keep us strategically forward-deployed and able to deter our enemies."

Members of the HSGAC toured spaces throughout the ship including the pipe shop, sheet metal shop, primary machine shop, carpenter shop and dive locker.

"I hope after their tour of the ship that they're able to walk away with an understanding of what we bring to the fight," said Capt. Mark A. Prokopius, commanding officer of Emory S. Land. "I'd like them to really get an idea of our capabilities in this area of responsibility and the important mission we have in supporting forward-deployed submarines and surface ships that are in the fight."

Emory S. Land is one of two forward-deployed expeditionary submarine tenders home ported in Guam, conducting maintenance on submarines and surface ships in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.