Senate Passes Defense Bill That Has Important Provisions For National Security And Maine
WASHINGTON, D.C.--With the strong support of Senator Susan Collins, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization bill in a 98-0 vote tonight to authorize funding for the Department of Defense (DoD) and national security functions of the Department of Energy (DoE). The bill includes continued funding for shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works, submarine repair at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, operations at the Defense Financial Accounting Service (DFAS) office and Maine Military Authority in Limestone, operations of the 101st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor, and other important defense projects at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick, General Dynamics in Saco, and several other Maine companies.
"This important legislation contains numerous provisions to ensure our service members have the resources they need to accomplish critical missions overseas in protection of our country and our freedoms," said Senator Collins, a member of both the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. "I am incredibly proud of the work of the Senate on this bill, especially the additional funding authorized for shipbuilding, which will allow the Department to continue to increase the size of the Navy's fleet."
The 2013 Defense Authorization bill includes many provisions critical to national security. The bill includes a provision requested by Senator Collins that provides multi-year procurement authority for up to ten DDG-51destroyers, one more than the President's budget request, which would ensure the workload at BIW through 2017. The bill also authorizes advanced funding for a second Virginia-Class Submarine to be built in Fiscal Year 2014, which is one more than the President's budget request.
Senator Collins was able to successfully authorize funding for the following defense programs:
• $3 billion for the Navy's DDG-51 program and $669 million for the DDG-1000 program, both built at Bath Iron Works.
• $6.3 billion for Navy ship repairs, which includes the overhaul, refueling, and maintenance of nuclear-powered submarines at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
• $6.9 billion for procurement of 29 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft; components for the F-35 are built at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick and at General Dynamics' facility at Saco Defense.
• $606 million in funding for research and development for the CH-53K marine helicopter. Hunting Dearborn in Fryeburg manufactures the rotor shaft for this helicopter.
• $412 million for depot maintenance at National Guard repair sites, including the Maine Military Authority in Limestone.
• $232 million for research and development of aerospace propulsion systems. The University of Maine conducts research on new propulsion and power technologies.
• $200 million in Rapid Innovation Program funding to increase investment in small businesses and developing technologies that benefit DoD.
• $56.7 million for procurement of the Common Remotely Operated Weapons System (CROWS). Vingtech in Biddeford, Maine Machine Products in South Paris, and Arundel Machine in Arundel produce components for the CROWS
• $40 million for M2 .50 caliber machine gun modifications performed at Saco.
Senator Collins also supported several provisions during floor consideration to support our men and women in uniform. The bill includes an amendment, authored by Senator Collins, that will require the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress regarding the threat of insider attacks in Afghanistan. "Congress must understand the nature and scope of this problem," said Senator Collins. "We must ensure the Pentagon and the Afghans are taking every possible step to prevent these attacks and ensure the strategy in Afghanistan is not undermined by their tragic occurrence."
A second amendment, cosponsored by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-D/CT), requires the
Attorney General and Secretary of Defense to jointly establish a prescription drug take-back program for military members and their dependents. In presenting the amendment, Senators Collins and Lieberman cited statistics from the Army showing that prescription drug abuse is a major factor in military suicides.
Senator Collins introduced a third amendment, cosponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), which allows the Army to conduct a study to examine the effectiveness of the Army's Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program - a program intended to strengthen the mental and emotional resilience of soldiers facing the stress and trauma associated with combat.
In addition, an amendment introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and cosponsored by Senator Collins, would prohibit the indefinite detention, without charge or trial, of American citizens suspected of terrorist activities arrested on American soil. During debate Senator Collins said, "Since 2001, terrorism has claimed far too many victims, both at home and abroad. It is crucially important that in pursuing the War on Terrorism, we assure our fellow citizens that their constitutional rights - the very foundation of what makes us Americans - will not also be one of the victims."
Senator Collins also cosponsored an amendment alongside Senators Lieberman, Tom
Carper (D-DE), and Scott Brown (R-MA), to reauthorize the Fire Grants Act and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). The fire grants reauthorized include the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. Senator Collins is a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.
Finally, the bill includes an amendment that Senator Collins cosponsored to strengthen the Department's treatment of those convicted of sexual abuse or sexual assault against a minor, and mandate that these individuals be automatically processed for separation, if the terms of their court-martial conviction did not include a dishonorable discharge.
A conference committee will now meet to work out the differences between the Senate-passed and House-passed versions of the Defense Authorization bill. Senator Collins is a member of that committee.
