As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Susan Collins was able to secure millions of dollars in defense-related projects that are important to the country's national security, to Maine businesses and to thousands of workers in the state.
The legislation raises salaries for troops by an average 4.15 percent and extends increases in combat and family separation pay. It increases benefits for military veterans, by allowing some disabled veterans to receive both disability payments and retirement benefits. In addition, Senator Collins was successful in her efforts to include a provision that will modernize civil service employment laws, while providing important protections for workers.
"This Defense bill ensures that our troops receive the support they need, our national security priorities are funded at adequate levels, and our veterans have access to the benefits they have earned," said Senator Collins. "It also funds important projects in Maine, proving that the defense companies and workers in our state continue to do to great work and provide an important service to our country."
Following is a list of the defense-related projects for which Senator Collins secured funding for Maine:
USS Jacksonville Refueling $248,000,000
These dollars will help the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery to maintain the near-term submarine force structure above 55 vessels and optimize the life span of the submarine to meet future commitments. The refueling will employ 800 workers at the Kittery Portsmouth Naval Shipyard over the next two years. Besides being critical to mission needs this work will help sustain our national defense industrial base. This funding will stabilize the workload at PNS as BRAC ‘05 approaches.
DDG-51 Destroyer Construction $3,200,000,000
To construct 3 DDG-51 Destroyers, 2 of which would be built at Bath Iron Works. Mark 47 Mod 0 Striker $18,000,000 General Dynamics in Saco manufactures these advanced crew- served weapons systems, which are a priority for the United States Special Operations Command. The Mark 47 Striker, which provides a dramatic increase in lethality, will replace older MK19's and .50 caliber weapon systems in both the Joint and Army Special Operations Commands.
ME Army National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility, Phase II (P-230067), Bangor ($14,900,000) This Phase II of a two-phase project expands and renovates existing administrative areas to include interior and exterior lighting, fire protection, handicapped accessibility requirements, rigid and flexible paving for aircraft parking and tie down pads, hover lanes, landscaping and physical security measures.
Kiowa Warrior, OH-58D Safety Enhancement Program $4,200,000 This program will allow General Dynamics of Saco to modify the Army's Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopter increasing its range, maneuverability, mission performance, and reduce auto-rotational ground run. This will be done using "commercially off the shelf" equipment to replace older heavier components, which will enhance safety, reliability, and reduce maintenance requirements.
Integrated Composite Missile Structures $2,000,000
Integrated composite missile structures will reduce costs and weight of missiles while significantly enhancing performance. This Fiber Materials, Inc. of Biddeford effort will demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing a multi-functional integrated missile structures for application in advanced interceptor airframes for marine operators. This is being developed by Bath Iron Works. The project was funded through Senator Collins efforts, as funding was not included in the Administration's budget.
Laser Welding for Navy Shipbuilding $3,500,000 The Laser Welding and Cutting program was initiated in FY 01 by Congress to support potential cost and weight savings and to enable creative designs and shapes to be fabricated. This laser welding program promises to demonstrate advances in technology to significantly reduce total ship construction cost and improve ship performance. Two Maine companies - Technology Systems, Incorporated of Wiscasset and Applied Thermal Sciences, Inc. of Sanford - are researching this technology. Diagnostic Tool for Biowarfare Disease $2,000,000 This Sensor Research and Development (SRD) Corporation Project will develop a mass spectrometric-based instrumental diagnostic tool capable of early, sensitive, and agent-specific detection of infectious disease. The instrument will be designed to be operated in a clinic, field hospital, or sickbay environment by trained, but not highly specialized, personnel. Rapid, Sensitive Detection of Biowarfare Agents $1,500,000 This Sensor Research and Development Corporation Project will leverage advances in materials fabrication to develop an inexpensive, sensitive, and reliable detector for biowarfare agents.
Augmented Reality (AR) Program $1,250,000 Augmented Reality is a visualization technique in which computer generated graphics are superimposed over one's view of the real world. Wiscasset's Technology Systems, Inc. will help improve safety in maritime operations involving mine warfare and amphibious assault; increase operational capabilities and higher operational tempos for Naval operations; improve port security; and significantly reduce costs to provide maritime aids to navigation.