$100 Million for PNSY Secured by Senator Collins in National Security Supplemental

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, announced that she secured $100 million for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in the national security supplemental package that passed the U.S. Senate this week by an overwhelming vote of 70-29.  The legislation, which includes funding to cover additional costs related to the expansion of PNSY’s Multi-Mission Drydock #1, now awaits consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The talented men and women at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard play an important role in maintaining our Navy fleet and enhancing our national security,” said Senator Collins.  “I have long advocated for the Navy to address the modernization needs at PNSY, and this funding for Multi-Mission Drydock #1 is critical to increasing the shipyard’s capacity and capability to accommodate additional submarines.”

The funding for PNSY is part of $3.3 billion included in the package to strengthen the U.S. submarine industrial base to enable increased production and support the AUKUS agreement.  AUKUS is, in part, an arrangement for Australia to acquire conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines with the help of the United States and the United Kingdom, which will further enhance security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

In November, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) appropriations bill, which includes nearly $545 million secured by Senator Collins for the fourth increment of the Multi-Mission Drydock #1 at PNSY.  The bill is currently being conferenced with the House of Representatives.

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