FUNDS THAT SEN COLLINS SECURED FOR THE DD(X) PROGRAM, BIW HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC—The Department of Defense has released $53 million in funds that Senator Susan Collins secured last year for work on the DD(X) program to be performed at Bath Iron Works (BIW). Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, secured a total of $84.4 million for the DD(X) program in the Fiscal Year 2005 defense authorization and appropriations bills. The Pentagon will release the remaining funds once the detailed design work begins.

"The release of these funds will allow the skilled workers at BIW to advance the DD(X) program, which is critical to our shipbuilding industrial base and our future national security," Senator Collins said. "It is essential that we proceed with the DD(X) program. BIW plays an important role in both our national security and the economy in Maine, and this project will allow BIW''s professional design workers to sustain a more stable workload."

Senator Collins has repeatedly called for release of these funds. Earlier this month, the Pentagon announced its intent to release only $20 million for this program. By releasing funds nearly triple the amount show the Department of Defense's commitment to this important program. This release of funds is a strong blow to efforts by the House to rescind all FY05 funds for the DD(X) program at BIW.

In addition to securing the $84.4 million earmark for DD(X) for work to be performed at BIW, Senator Collins secured an additional $100 million this year--$50 million over the President's request for 2006—for the DD(X) program at BIW. In addition, she secured $25 million for BIW's DDG-51 modernization program, and she successfully fought for the total amount allotted for the program to be $1.8 billion.