SENATOR COLLINS SECURES ESSENTIAL FUNDING FOR MAINE IN SENATE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that she successfully secured opportunities for funding for Maine programs in the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Defense funding bill. This bill has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“This legislation will provide funding for essential training, equipment, and support to our troops as they bravely and skillfully engage in national security efforts at home and abroad,” said Senator Collins, who is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “This is a critical time in our nation’s history and the Senate has, once again, demonstrated its strong support of our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines. In addition, the funding in this bill will help continue the valuable contributions of Maine companies to our national security.”
At Senator Collins’ request, the final bill helps ensure a continued workload at Bath Iron Works (BIW) by appropriating the FY 2012 cost-to-complete request for the DDG-1000 program at $453.7 million. In addition, this legislation appropriates $1.98 billion for a DDG-51 for which BIW is competing and $100.7 million for advanced procurement of the DDG-51 expected to be built in FY2013. The House of Representatives Appropriations Defense Subcommittee eliminated $2 million from the DDG-51 budget request, while the Senate version includes $2.4 million more for the DDG-51 than the President requested. Senator Collins’ strong support for Navy shipbuilding also helped to ensure that none of the $2.7 billion in budget rescissions in the bill came at the expense of shipbuilding. At Senator Collins’ request, the bill also includes a requirement for the Secretary of the Navy to report to Congress on options for increasing the Navy’s Ballistic Missile Defense capable ships, which include the DDG-51s built at Bath Iron Works.
Several programs supported by Senator Collins that help small businesses contribute to our national defense were included as well. At Senator Collins’ request, the Senate Appropriations Committee included $200 million for the Rapid Innovation Program, which can support small business research programs that have already completed Phases I and II of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) programs. In addition, the bill includes $30 million for the Industrial Base Innovation Fund and $9 million for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, which has six locations in Maine to help assist small businesses seeking to do business with the federal government.
Senator Collins also secured the support of the Committee to encourage DOD to continue supporting research conducted by the University of Maine and businesses that have been established using University-developed technology. Specifically, the bill includes report language urging the Defense Department to continue supporting research for deepwater offshore wind energy, wood-to-jet fuel, and waste-to-energy conversion efforts. The Committee also encourages the Department of Defense to support innovative research on turbine engine sensor technology to improve engine performance, safety, and fuel efficiency. Environetix, based in Orono, is an industry leader in this field.
In addition, Senator Collins worked to secure funding for the following priorities:
• Fully funds a 1.6% pay-raise for service members and increases funding to address Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and mental health care for service members and veterans.
• $4.9 billion for ship depot maintenance, which includes funding for submarine repairs at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The bill also includes a provision directing the Navy to fund a minimum of 100 apprenticeships at each naval shipyard, including PNSY, to ensure that the shipyard can enable younger workers to develop the experience that is held by so many seasoned employees at PNSY.
• $14.89 million for the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) which is being developed by Vingtech in Biddeford, Maine Machine Products Co. in South Paris, and Arundel Machine Tool in Arundel.
• Fully funds $79.96 million for .50 Caliber M2 machine guns and modifications built in Saco.
• Fully funds the Army’s continued development of the modular handgun system, a program that could contribute to manufacturing in Houlton’s Smith & Wesson plant.
• Fully funds $12 million for the Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS)’s and DFAS’s $1.4 billion Working Capital Fund, which includes support for operations in Limestone.
• Authorizes $20 million for research and development for the High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle recapitalization program, which Maine Military Authority in Limestone will compete for next year.
• Funds 29 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at $9.04 billion. Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick provides engine components for the aircraft and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products in Saco manufactures the gatling gun.
• $629 million for the Marine Corps’ CH-53K helicopter. Dearborn Precision in Fryeburg makes the rotor shaft for this helicopter.
• For the second year in a row, the Senate funding bill does not include any funding for the expensive and unneeded F-35 extra engine that would compete against engines being developed by Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick.
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“This legislation will provide funding for essential training, equipment, and support to our troops as they bravely and skillfully engage in national security efforts at home and abroad,” said Senator Collins, who is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “This is a critical time in our nation’s history and the Senate has, once again, demonstrated its strong support of our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines. In addition, the funding in this bill will help continue the valuable contributions of Maine companies to our national security.”
At Senator Collins’ request, the final bill helps ensure a continued workload at Bath Iron Works (BIW) by appropriating the FY 2012 cost-to-complete request for the DDG-1000 program at $453.7 million. In addition, this legislation appropriates $1.98 billion for a DDG-51 for which BIW is competing and $100.7 million for advanced procurement of the DDG-51 expected to be built in FY2013. The House of Representatives Appropriations Defense Subcommittee eliminated $2 million from the DDG-51 budget request, while the Senate version includes $2.4 million more for the DDG-51 than the President requested. Senator Collins’ strong support for Navy shipbuilding also helped to ensure that none of the $2.7 billion in budget rescissions in the bill came at the expense of shipbuilding. At Senator Collins’ request, the bill also includes a requirement for the Secretary of the Navy to report to Congress on options for increasing the Navy’s Ballistic Missile Defense capable ships, which include the DDG-51s built at Bath Iron Works.
Several programs supported by Senator Collins that help small businesses contribute to our national defense were included as well. At Senator Collins’ request, the Senate Appropriations Committee included $200 million for the Rapid Innovation Program, which can support small business research programs that have already completed Phases I and II of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) programs. In addition, the bill includes $30 million for the Industrial Base Innovation Fund and $9 million for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, which has six locations in Maine to help assist small businesses seeking to do business with the federal government.
Senator Collins also secured the support of the Committee to encourage DOD to continue supporting research conducted by the University of Maine and businesses that have been established using University-developed technology. Specifically, the bill includes report language urging the Defense Department to continue supporting research for deepwater offshore wind energy, wood-to-jet fuel, and waste-to-energy conversion efforts. The Committee also encourages the Department of Defense to support innovative research on turbine engine sensor technology to improve engine performance, safety, and fuel efficiency. Environetix, based in Orono, is an industry leader in this field.
In addition, Senator Collins worked to secure funding for the following priorities:
• Fully funds a 1.6% pay-raise for service members and increases funding to address Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and mental health care for service members and veterans.
• $4.9 billion for ship depot maintenance, which includes funding for submarine repairs at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The bill also includes a provision directing the Navy to fund a minimum of 100 apprenticeships at each naval shipyard, including PNSY, to ensure that the shipyard can enable younger workers to develop the experience that is held by so many seasoned employees at PNSY.
• $14.89 million for the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) which is being developed by Vingtech in Biddeford, Maine Machine Products Co. in South Paris, and Arundel Machine Tool in Arundel.
• Fully funds $79.96 million for .50 Caliber M2 machine guns and modifications built in Saco.
• Fully funds the Army’s continued development of the modular handgun system, a program that could contribute to manufacturing in Houlton’s Smith & Wesson plant.
• Fully funds $12 million for the Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS)’s and DFAS’s $1.4 billion Working Capital Fund, which includes support for operations in Limestone.
• Authorizes $20 million for research and development for the High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle recapitalization program, which Maine Military Authority in Limestone will compete for next year.
• Funds 29 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at $9.04 billion. Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick provides engine components for the aircraft and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products in Saco manufactures the gatling gun.
• $629 million for the Marine Corps’ CH-53K helicopter. Dearborn Precision in Fryeburg makes the rotor shaft for this helicopter.
• For the second year in a row, the Senate funding bill does not include any funding for the expensive and unneeded F-35 extra engine that would compete against engines being developed by Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick.
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