SENATOR COLLINS SUCCESSFULLY ADDS $99 MILLION FOR DD(X) SHIP CONSTRUCTION AT BATH IRON WORKS

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Susan Collins, who is a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has successfully secured $99.4 million for detail design work on a DD(X) destroyer to be built at Bath Iron Works (BIW). The funds represent the first installment of BIW's construction of its first DD(X), which is the next generation of destroyers to which the US Navy is transitioning. The funds are included as part of the FY 05 Senate Defense Authorization legislation and will accelerate the start of construction of the DD(X) in 2006, a full year earlier than the Administration's budget had proposed.

The legislation also fully funds, at a level of $3.5 billion, the construction of three DDG-51's, two of which will be built by Bath. Senator Collins worked to ensure that these funds were included in the Defense Authorization bill.

"This is great news for Bath Iron Works," Senator Collins said. "This work is critical to the highly skilled workers at BIW to ensure that they maintain their crucial involvement in the Navy's destroyer program. "

"I am very pleased that my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee have recognized the important role that BIW plays in our national security and in the Navy's destroyer programs," said Senator Collins.

Senator Collins explained that these funds will help accelerate the DD(X) program as the current generation of destroyers, the DDG program, comes to an end. These funds are for Bath's first DD(X), which will now come in 2006, a year that initially did not include any funding for any surface combatant construction. Senator Collins believes that this year-long "gap" in shipbuilding would have been detrimental to both the stability of the workforce at BIW and to the Navy, which needs more destroyers in its fleet. As a result, Senator Collins worked to accelerate the DD(X) program.

In addition, Senator Collins was successful in including language in the committee report directing the Navy to "take all actions necessary to ensure the viability of the second shipyard (Bath Iron Works) in order to maintain a healthy and competitive industrial base."

The Defense Authorization Legislation was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee (earlier today.) It is expected to be considered by the full Senate within the next two months.

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