WASHINGTON — The massive $1.1 trillion omnibus spending package hammered out by congressional negotiators includes $1 billion toward funding for an additional Navy destroyer that would most likely be built at Bath Iron Works.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine serves on the Appropriations Committee and lobbied hard for the additional funding.
"Obviously that has great importance to jobs in the state of Maine and to our national security,” she says.” It has been a very interesting process.”
Over the last several weeks congressional negotiators have been working out the details of how to implement the two-year budget agreement reached in October. Maine’s two senators have been fighting for funding for another DDG-51 destroyer because the construction contract would likely be awarded to Bath Iron Works. And BIW is worried that without additional work, the workforce level will fall in the years ahead.
BIW officials declined to comment on the announcement that the money was included in the omnibus spending bill because it has not won final approval by either the House or Senate.
“Sen. Collins is a relentless advocate for the hardworking men and women at Bath Iron Works, and I am thankful that she was able to secure additional funding for shipbuilding through her position on the Appropriations Committee,” Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King said in a statement. “The funding for this additional ship is a major achievement for Maine and she deserves all the credit."
Under the complex congressional process, the destroyer also needs to be "authorized," a step that occurred last month as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. King sits on the Armed Services Committee and played a role in the authorization.
Both senators said the Navy is falling short of its goal of 304 surface warships by 2020. There are currently 279 in the fleet. Both senators said they expect additional debate over further destroyer funding in the years ahead.
