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SENATOR COLLINS SPEAKS ON SENATE FLOOR IN SUPPORT OF 2006 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Senator Susan Collins spoke today on the Senate Floor in support of the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes key provisions she authored for the DD(X) program and Bath Iron Works.

Senator Collins, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, addressed the Senate highlighting important provisions included in the legislation. "This bill authorizes $9.1 billion for essential shipbuilding priorities, as well as a provision to prohibit the use of funds by the Navy to conduct a ‘one shipyard' acquisition strategy to procure next-generation DD(X) destroyers," Senator Collins said. The bill also includes Senator Collins' provision to increase by $50 million, to $100 million, in advance procurement funding for BIW to perform detailed design work on the DD(X).

Senator Collins also pointed out that the Defense Authorization bill includes an amendment authored by Senator John McCain (R-AZ), which she cosponsored, to prohibit cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment of detainees. "The vast, overwhelming majority of American troops perform their duties with fairness, compassion and courage. To them, the actions of those who have been accused of torture against detainees are demoralizing and make the difficult task they have been assigned immeasurably more difficult," Senator Collins said.

In addition, Senator Collins spoke in favor of an amendment jointly offered by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator Collins that would modify the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Act to give communities affected by base closures the opportunity to be offered that property at no cost.

The Senate is expected to vote on the Defense Authorization bill this week.

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