The bill passed by a vote of 95-to-3 and will now go to conference with the House to reconcile the differences between the Senate and House bills. The overall bill will provide approximately $355.4 billion in support of defense-related activities, and includes $1.4 billion more than requested by the Administration for shipbuilding programs.
"This legislation makes critical investments in a variety of projects important to all branches of our military, to the men and women who serve, and to the state of Maine," said Senator Collins.
Highlights of the Maine related programs are: Bath Iron Works: $2.74 billion to fund the DDG-51 program, which is $370 million above what the Administration had requested, and $470 million above what the House had appropriated. The Senate appropriators are funding the DDG destroyer program at $2.74 billion for FY 2003. The new DD(X) program, regarded as the Navy''s next generation of surface combatant and family-of ships, is being funded at $990.5 million, $960.5 million will be used for continued research and development on the DD(X) ship and the additional $30 million will be used to begin to design the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). LCS will be used to address the mine, small boat, and diesel submarine threats.
"This is tremendous news for Bath Iron Works and for the Navy," said Senator Collins. "We''re looking at being able to fully fund two DDGs and pay for costs associated with the transfer of DDG-102 to Bath Iron Works as part of a recent swap agreement recently reached among Bath, Northrop Grumman Corp and the Navy."
In addition to successfully maintaining the higher appropriations levels won by the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Collins was successful in retaining an appropriation of $5 million for the so-called "DDG optimized manning initiative". This is a study led by Bath Iron Works which is aimed at reducing the crew size on the DDG destroyers. "This is an important study that will bring additional engineering work to Bath Iron Works and save jobs," the Senator added. This initiative was not included in the House bill.
Pratt & Whitney: $84 million for F-15 "E-Kit" Modifications, which will reduce costs, improve reliability, and enhance flight safety. $15 million for Block 42 F-16 Fighter Engine Modernization, which replaces the current F100-PW-220 engine with the F100-PW-229 engine. The House bill included only $69 million for F-15 program. Brunswick Naval Air Station:. $110 million for P-3 Anti-Surface Warfare Improvements, a quantum upgrade in the P-3''s ability to receive and process information, classify targets, and deliver weapons against surface targets. This funding will provide a total of six avionics upgrade kits for the P-3 fleet.
Kittery-Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: $7.5 million for the high performance brush project. The House bill included $1.5 million. $10 million for the Shipyard Apprentice Program, which targets revitalization of the workforce at Naval Shipyards, to ensure skills are available to execute future overhaul maintenance and repair of naval ships. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard will receive $2.5 million for the apprentice program at the yard in Kittery, ME. University of Maine: $2 million for the Modular Advanced Composite Hull Forms, which focuses on designing, fabricating, and testing a prototype structure for use on high-speed, hybrid surface ships that lead to high-speed troop transports as well as civilian ships. This project is being developed through the University of Maine (Orono) and Applied Thermal Science, Inc. in Sanford. The House bill included $1.5 million. One million dollars for Intelligent Spatial Technologies for Smart Maps, which will be used to support database research; visualization and testing; and enhanced processing. $4 million for Supercluster Distributed Memory Technology, which represents a low-cost approach to running the necessary complex computer simulations for the weapons systems under development by the Department of Defense. The House bill included $3 million. The Senate bill also includes an amendment offered by Senator Collins which will provide up to $2 million for the Structural Reliability of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers Composite program. This program will develop reliable methods to design and manufacture large composite parts for ships, resulting in safer, more cost-effective structures.
Sensor Research Development Corporation: The bill will include a $25 million competitive fund that SRD can compete for funds to be used for chemical and biological programs. SRD is currently working on three eligible programs that could receive funding as part of this chemical and biological initiative. The programs include: the Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Bio Warfare Agents, the Diagnostic Tool for Biowarfare-Inflicted Infectious Diseases, and the Food and Safety Security Sensors. On the floor, Senator Collins engaged Members of the appropriations committee to further discuss the important work that SRD has been doing in the area of chemical and biological defense.
General Dynamics Armament Systems, Saco Operations: $16.663 million for the MK 19 Mod 3 Grenade Machine Gun. The MK 19 remains a primary force protection component for infantry, Scouts, Military Police, and Combat Support Units. $2 million for the Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher/Striker system, which provides Special Operations Forces with a dramatic increase in overall survivability and the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab for delivery and evaluation of prototype units of the Striker Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher. $6.197 million for the Objective Crew Served Weapon, which is being developed to provide an ultra lightweight, two-man weapon with overwhelming lethality compared to existing systems. The Army has identified this weapons as the principal secondary weapon system for the Future Combat System (FCS) program. The House bill included the president''s request of $1.197 million.
Fiber Materials, Inc., Applied Thermal Sciences, Inc., and Technology Systems, Inc.: $2 million for Ceramic and Carbon Based Composites, which will develop ceramic based nozzle material that will exhibit little to no erosion during flight and has significant impact in the tactical missile field. $3 million for Laser Welding and Cutting, which will significantly reduce ship construction costs while affording ship designers flexibility and ultimately improve ship performance. (Applied Thermal Sciences, Inc., of Sanford and Technology Systems, Inc., of Wiscasset, is developing this technology. Bath Iron Works is also a partner on the project.) Senator Collins cosponsored an amendment to provide up to $5 million for the small kill vehicle program.
Jackson Laboratory: $1.0 million for Genetics Research - Mice Modeling. This research is developing an understanding of biological differences that enhance the ability of soldiers to survive battlefield diseases and injuries. The House did not include funding for this project.
Manufacturing Extension Partnership: $6.0 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to expand program assisting small and mid-sized manufacturing companies to break in or gain additional work with the Department of Defense. The Maine MEP will receive $1.2 million to assist companies with the means to produce military compatible parts and materials needed to maintain weapons and machinery being used by our nation''s military to fight the war on terrorism. The House did not include funding for this project.
Navy Pilot Human Resource Call Center: As a amendment to the bill, up to $1.5 million could be moved for the Navy Pilot Human Resources Call Center.
The bill will provide $9.15 billion for overall shipbuilding provisions. That is an increase from the figure already approved by the House, $8.13 billion, and the Defense Department''s request of $8.19 billion.
To assist the business community, many of which are small businesses, the bill also includes the an additional $5 million (bringing the total to $24 million) for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP). The PTAP provides invaluable one-on-one assistance to guide businesses through the complex procurement process.
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