SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS SUCCESSFULLY SECURES FUNDS FOR SHIPBUILDING PROJECTS AT BATH

WASHINGTON, DC—Senator Susan Collins, who is a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has successfully secured millions of dollars of shipbuilding funds that will benefit Bath Iron Works (BIW). The funds were included as part of the final version of the fiscal year 2005 Defense Appropriations spending bill.

"This is very good news for the future of Bath Iron Works and its workforce in its efforts to maintain its critical involvement in the Navy's destroyer program. It is also testament to the valuable skills and talent that Bath workers offer to our nation's national security needs," said Senator Collins. "I am pleased that my colleagues have approved these vital projects and recognized their important to Bath and the Department of Defense," added Senator Collins.

Senator Collins also worked to have these projects included in the fiscal year 2005 Defense Authorization legislation.

The projects in the final version of the Defense Appropriations bill to benefit BIW are as follows:

· The bill fully funds at a level of $3.5 billion, three DDGs, two of which will be built by BIW.

· $88.4 million for accelerated work in 2006 on the DD(X), the next generation destroyer. These funds represent the first installment of BIWs construction of its first DD(X). These will accelerate the start of the construction of the DD(X) in 2006, a full year earlier than the Administration's budget has proposed.

· $50 million for DDG-51 modernization. Bath will be involved in this modernization project.

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