The Senate has approved the fiscal year 2009 Defense Authorization bill, which includes key provisions authored by Senator Collins that support work at Bath Iron Works, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the University of Maine, Saco Defense, Pratt & Whitney, and other Maine companies.
“This legislation contains funding for essential programs that will support the goal of a 313-ship Navy, provide critical force protection to our men and women in uniform, increase the end-strength of the Army and Marine Corps, restore our military’s readiness, and spur the development of technologies to counter existing and emerging threats. It also includes key shipbuilding provisions that are critical for BIW, the Navy and our overall national security,” said Senator Collins, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “The Senate has again recognized the valuable contributions of Maine companies to our national security by funding important defense programs in our state.”
At Senator Collins’ request, the Senate bill helps ensure a continued and steady workload at Bath Iron Works by authorizing $2.55 billion for the funding for construction of the third DDG-1000 Zumwalt class destroyer. In addition, Senator Collins ensured funding was included in the Senate bill for $920 million for the next two Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). One of the two LCS variants is being designed and built by a Bath Iron Works-led team. The bill also includes $344 million for the Joint High Speed Vessel program, for the procurement of vessels for the Navy and the Army. GD-BIW is participating in the competition for this contract. Senator Collins also successfully added $25 million to the bill for the modernization of the Navy’s DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class destroyers.
“I am particularly pleased that the final Senate bill contains to my request to include $20.6 million for a new drydock support facility at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery,” Senator Collins said. “This drydock is essential for the shipyard’s future work on Virginia-class submarines.” In addition, the bill authorizes $540,000 for renovation of the Navy offices in Bath, Maine
The Senate bill also authorized a 3.9 percent across-the-board pay increase for service members, 0.5 percent above the President’s budget request, and includes provisions to improve mental health screening of and treatment for service members.
In addition, highlights of the Senate bill include:
• $6.8 billion for continued development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), including an additional $35 million for the continued development of the F135 engine. Pratt & Whitney builds the F135 engine for the JSF with work performed at the Pratt & Whitney North Berwick facility and other plants.
• $3.05 billion for procurement of the F-22A Raptor as well as an additional $497 million that may be used for additional advanced procurement. Pratt & Whitney builds the F119 engine for the F-22A with work performed in part at the Pratt & Whitney North Berwick facility.
• $527.5 million for C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, the engines of which are built by Pratt & Whitney plants, including the Pratt & Whitney North Berwick facility.
• $99.9 million for M2HB .50 Caliber Machine Guns and $17.3 million for MK19 MOD 3 40mm Grenade Launchers, both of which are manufactured at Saco Defense in Saco.
• $20.4 million for construction of the Dry Dock #3 Waterfront Support Facility at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
• $20.0 million for the Maine Army National Guard for construction of a Regional Training Institute at the Bangor Armed Forces Reserve Center. This facility will support the 240th Regiment and will provide the necessary administrative, educational, dining and billeting areas required to plan, program, and conduct training for the region.
• $9.5 million for the Maine Army National Guard to field the Rapid Data Management System, developed by Global Relief Technologies in Kennebunk and Orono, Maine and in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in support of critical medevac operations in Iraq. This system provides near real-time data management and analysis to and from field operators via hand-held devices.
• $4.5 million for the University of Maine. The authorized funding will support continued research and development of lightweight modular ballistic tent insert panels designed by the University of Maine’s Army Center of Excellence in Orono. The panels provide crucial protection to service members in temporary dining and housing facilities in mobile forward operating bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. The funding will also support continue research and development of high temperature sensors for health monitoring of aerospace components as well as cellulose nanocomposite panels for enhanced blast and ballistic protection.
• $3.5 million to weaponize the Ripsaw Unmanned Ground Vehicle platform designed by Howe & Howe Technologies, Inc. in North Berwick.
• $3 million to continue development of a chemical and biological infrared detection system designed by Orono Spectral Solutions in Orono.
• $3 million to develop software which will secure content delivery and provide host authentication both of which are of critical importance to protect the Department of Defense’s technological edge. This software will be developed by ANGEL Secure Networks, Inc. in Orono, Maine.
• $2 million to enable technology to be rapidly configured and deployed on Navy Special Warfare craft. This funding will support a broad range of applications allowing the Commanders to tailor the system for Special Warfare Operators and their associated special equipment. This technology is being developed by Technology Systems, Inc. in Brunswick, Maine.
• $2 million to provide the Department of Defense with a tool which will provide heading/compass information from a non-magnetic source, as a back-up system for the Global Positioning System (GPS). This technology is being developed by CrossRate Technologies, LLC in Standish, Maine.
• $2.0 million to optimize the Mark V.1 “MAKO” for improved signature and weight performance. The Mark V.1 was developed by Maine Marine Manufacturing in Portland, the University of Maine in Orono, and Hodgdon Yachts in East Boothbay as part of the Mark V replacement patrol boat program to meet the U.S. Special Operations Command’s requirement for a high-speed Medium-Range Endurance Craft.
• The bill also contained language addressing the need for additional chiropractic care for members of the armed forces and requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study to reassess the requirement for chiropractic services for members on active duty. The study will include surveys of service members, unit commanders and medical treatment facility personnel, and a review of injury data for active duty service members since 2001. The survey will also include the needs of members assigned to units outside the continental United States.
• The bill authorizes the presentation of a burial flag to the surviving spouse or child of a deceased service member when they not otherwise entitled to a flag as the person designated to direct disposition of the remains. This is a portion of the language from the bill that Senator Collins introduced on behalf of Maine families with Senator Olympia Snowe.