The U.S. House of Representatives has approved an amendment authored by Maine Second District Congressman Bruce Poliquin designed to ensure BIW is on track to build two DDG-51 destroyers. A provision was added to the House Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Bill that would have retroactively imposed new statutory requirements on ships authorized and funded in prior fiscal years. Poliquin’s amendment blocks the provision.
Bath Iron Works has released a statement in which it says it’s grateful for the work of Maine U.S. Representatives Bruce Poliquin and Chellie Pingree. BIW says the representatives’ advocacy balances the goal of bringing upgrades to the Navy fleet as soon as possible with the need to have a sufficiently complete design.