Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
WASHINGTON — Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that Bath Iron Works has been awarded an additional $55,118,975 from the U.S. Navy under a previously awarded contract to perform lead yard services on the DDG-51 class Guided Missile Destroyer program.
“At a time when many American adversaries are increasing their naval capabilities, investing in the DDG-51 destroyer is vitally important to our national security,” the delegation said in a statement. “The additional funding provided by this contract modification will help Maine shipbuilders continue to produce the best, most reliable warships in the world for American sailors.”
Last month, the delegation sent a letter to President Joe Biden expressing concern that the Department of Defense only planned to request a single DDG-51 Flight III destroyer. Following the release of the President’s budget, the delegation released a statement opposing the administration’s funding reduction for the DDG-51 and pledging to advocate for increased procurement.
Last week, Pingree and Golden brought the Chair of the House Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, Rep. Joe Courtney (RI-02) to the shipyard to highlight the key role the destroyers play in the Navy’s mission. In the last several weeks, members of the delegation also toured the shipyard with acting Navy Secretary Thomas Harker and Chief of Naval Operations Michael Gulday, in part to impress upon the officials the important role BIW and its shipbuilders play in the Navy’s mission.
Senators Collins and King hold seats on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, respectively. Congresswoman Pingree is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and Congressman Golden is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
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