Senator Collins has advocated for a funding mechanism that would allow the cost of the DD(X) destroyer to be paid incrementally, enabling the Navy to acquire the ships that it needs while helping the US maintain the skilled workforce necessary to support construction of this vital asset. In addition, Senator Collins has been a leader in the Senate in efforts that would prevent the Department of Defense from awarding a "winner-take-all" contract for work on the destroyer.
During her questioning to the Honorable Gordon England, Senator Collins pointed to the Navy's shipbuilding budget, which has declined over the past three years from $11.4 billion to $8.7 billion, despite the fact that the Chief of Naval Operations recently testified that $14 to $15 billion each year should be spent on shipbuilding. She said that the lack of stability in funding could threaten the workforce. She asked Secretary England whether he believes that more stable funding would be better for the Navy, the industrial base, and the security of our nation.
Senator Collins also expressed deep concerns about the Navy looking to foreign sources for future shipbuilding work. "Have you had discussions about using foreign shipyards and sacrificing the U.S. Shipbuilding workforce?"
Secretary England assured her that the Navy is not looking to foreign shipyards.
In addition, Senator Collins pointed out to Secretary England that the Senate has sent a clear message to the Department of Defense that it opposes a "one shipyard" acquisition strategy, which would award all DD(X)-related work to only one shipyard. Senator Collins has been one of the leading members in the Senate to author legislation expressing opposition to such a strategy. "We must look at the impact of this strategy on our industrial base," Senator Collins said.
The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to vote on Secretary England's nomination within the next few days.
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