The full House Armed Services has approved its version of the fiscal year 2009 Defense Authorization bill that includes a provision that would completely eliminate funding for construction of the third DDG-1000 Zumwalt class destroyer. In contrast, the U.S. Senate version of the same bill includes a provision backed by Senator Susan Collins that fully funds the third DDG-1000 and would benefit BIW, while also helping the Navy reach its long term force structure goals.
Just last week, the House Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee also voted to eliminate funding for construction of the third DDG-1000.
Senator Collins, who is a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released this statement about the House defense authorization bill:
“I am deeply concerned with this decision by the House Armed Services Committee. These proposed cuts to the critical DDG-1000 program would be devastating to the skilled shipbuilders at BIW, detrimental to our national security, and is not consistent with the Navy’s goal of a 313-ship fleet.
“I will continue to work to ensure that the Senate version of the bill prevails.”