THE PENTAGON RELEASES A PORTION OF FUNDS THAT SEN COLLINS SECURED FOR THE DD(X) PROGRAM, BIW

WASHINGTON, DC-- The US Department of Defense has announced that it will release at least $20 million to Bath Iron Works (BIW) to "prepare to transition into detail design work" on the DD(X) program. These funds are a portion of $84.4 million that Senator Susan Collins secured last year for advance work on the program to be performed at BIW.

Senator Collins, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee has released this statement:

"This release of these funds for work on the DD(X) program will help sustain the skilled workers at BIW and it reaffirms the Pentagon's commitment to this program, which will play a crucial role in our future national security," said Senator Collins.

"It is important however, for the entire $84.4 million earmark that I secured last year be released right away to enable this program to advance another step further. BIW and its critical shipbuilding industrial base, and our future national security challenges depend on it," the Senator added.

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--$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.

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