SENATOR COLLINS URGES NAVY CHIEF TO MAINTAIN SHIPBUILDING WORKLOAD AT BIW

Washington, DC – Senator Susan Collins today stressed the importance of shipbuilding operations in Maine, during a meeting with the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Vernon Clark. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Collins has spoken and met a number of times with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, Admiral Clark, and other military officials to discuss the contributions that Bath Iron Works continues to make to the Navy fleet and the need to maintain a steady and strong workload at the Maine shipyard. Senator Collins reiterated her support for continued shipbuilding projects at BIW with Admiral Clark today, at a meeting that also included Senator Olympia Snowe.

"It is a top priority for me to ensure that the Navy recognizes the unique and valuable contribution that BIW makes to the nation's defense," said Senator Collins. "The effectiveness of our Navy relies upon the continued enhancement of the fleet's strength and size. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will continue to work to preserve the critical naval shipbuilding industrial base in Maine."

Senator Collins successfully secured millions of dollars of shipbuilding funds as part of the Defense Appropriations Bill that will benefit BIW, including $84.4 million for accelerated work on the DD(X). That funding represents the first installment of BIW's construction of its first DD(X) and will accelerate the start of the construction of the DD(X).

"I continue to work through the Armed Services Committee to address the challenges associated with the transition from the DDG to the DD(X), to ensure that the DD(X) program is fully funded, and that important shipbuilding work that contributes to the defense of our country is performed by the skilled workers at BIW," said Senator Collins.

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