WASHINGTON, DC-With Senator Collins’ support, the U.S. Senate has approved the fiscal year 2006 Defense Appropriations bill, which includes $50 million within the DD(X) program and an additional $50 million for DDG-51 modernization, both of which benefit Bath Iron Works. Senator Collins worked to also secure authorization of this funding in the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which she is a member. In total, the bill includes $1.8 billion for the DD(X) program, a combined $1.1 billion in research and development and $716 million for procurement of the DD(X). This represents the President’s request, which Senator Collins worked successfully to include in this final spending bill, despite efforts by the House to drastically cut funding for the DD(X) program.
The Defense spending bill also includes crucial funding for our troops and $2.9 billion in disaster assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina. In addition, the bill includes millions of dollars for defense-related projects for Maine, which will benefit America ’s national security while helping secure jobs in the State.
Senator Collins was also successful in her efforts to have stripped from the bill a provision that was included in an earlier version of the bill that would have permitted oil and gas drilling on ANWR, something that Senator Collins has strongly and consistently opposed. In addition, she was able to secure a commitment from Senate leadership that emergency funding for the LIHEAP program would be considered as one of the first items for consideration when Congress reconvenes in January.
In related legislation, which was also approved by the Senate, Senator Collins was successful in her efforts to permanently prevent the Navy from proceeding with a “one shipyard” acquisition strategy, ensuring that both BIW and Ingalls will be involved in work related to the DD(X) program.
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Following Senate approval of the bill, Senator Collins said, “This legislation is good news for our national security and for BIW. The skilled workforce at BIW plays a vital role in our military and this bill includes crucial funding to ensure that BIW builds the major surface combatants that our Navy needs, including the next generation of destroyers, the DD(X), as well as modernization of the DDG-51s. As the Navy's lead contractor on DDG Modernization design and engineering, BIW will be incorporating the first package of modernization upgrades on its FY05 new construction ships, the DDG-111 and DDG-112. The shipbuilding provisions in this Defense spending bill are in sharp contrast to an earlier House version of the bill, which would have slashed DD(X) funding by over $1 billion and did not include the President’s full request for the overall program or for research and development.
“This bill provides vital funding for our troops to help ensure that they have the best equipment possible to defend our nation. And it includes vital dollars for the victims of Hurricane Katrina who are still struggling to get back on their feet following one of the worst natural disasters of our nation’s history.
“I am also pleased that the Senate came to an agreement to strip language from the bill that would have permitted oil and gas drilling at ANWR. This is a matter that I strongly oppose and it did not belong in this defense spending bill.
“I am troubled that the final bill did not include the LIHEAP money we sought. But we did forge an agreement with leadership that will provide for Senate consideration of a LIHEAP emergency spending bill when Congress reconvenes. This is a commitment to which I will hold leadership.”
Highlights of the bill's defense projects for Maine are as follows: