U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tonight was presented with the 2007 Herbert H. Bateman Award from the American Shipbuilding Association (ASA) for outstanding leadership in the promotion of a strong U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
The Herbert H. Bateman Award is the shipbuilding industry’s highest recognition of an individual in the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, or industry who has demonstrated years of consistent, outstanding, and inspirational leadership in fighting for a stronger shipbuilding industry. Congressman Herb Bateman of Virginia, the award’s namesake, demonstrated these qualities throughout his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 – 2000.
Dugan Shipway, President of Bath Iron Works said, "The Herbert H. Bateman Award is the only award given by ASA that recognizes a member of Congress for their exceptional work on behalf of the U. S. Shipbuilding Industry and I can think of no one more fitting to receive this award than Susan M. Collins of Maine. Since her election to the US Senate in 1996, Senator Collins has been a tireless and effective advocate for a strong Navy, for the shipbuilding industrial base of the United States and for the proud Maine shipbuilders of Bath Iron Works. Her membership on the critical Senate Armed Services Committee and her leadership role on its Seapower Subcommittee is vitally important for the shipbuilding industry and BIW as was so ably demonstrated by her key role in defeating a plan that would have resulted in only one US shipbuilder building all future US Navy surface combatants. She is a giant symbol of what service to her country and to her constituents is all about and her efforts have ensured that our nation’s concerns for a viable shipbuilding industry have been heard clearly in Washington. Senator Collins treats people with dignity, she acts with integrity, and she uses Maine common sense to help get things done. She is both a Maine and a national treasure providing tenacious leadership on key issues affecting all citizens of the United States. I applaud Senator Collins for her outstanding work in the Senate on shipbuilding issues and congratulate her on this most appropriate recognition."
“Senator Collins is a consistent, strong advocate for the shipbuilding industry of the United States. She helped to defeat the Navy’s ‘One Shipyard’ policy to ensure that both Bath Iron Works and Ingalls continue to design and build surface combatants for the Navy. She promotes alternative financing methods for naval ships in order to increase the number of ships contracted annually, and she champions legislation to require that ships for our military be built in American shipyards,” stated Cynthia L. Brown, President of ASA.
“It is a great honor to be chosen to receive the Herbert H. Bateman award,” said Senator Collins. “As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have seen first-hand that seapower is crucial to defend our freedom and to extend the blessings of freedom to others. I have fought for shipbuilding and acquisition policies that will keep the United States Navy pre-eminent, our shipyards strong, and our skilled workers building the best ships in the world.”
The American Shipbuilding Association is the national trade association of the shipbuilding industry. ASA members include the nation’s six largest shipyards and more than 70 companies engaged in the manufacture of ship systems and components.
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