The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, a $692 billion defense spending bill that includes significant provisions for Maine.
The Senate voted 89-8 in favor of the legislation. The House passed its version of the NDAA in July, and the two chambers will have to work out their differences in a conference committee before it becomes law.
The Senate version includes more than $5 billion toward procurement of three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which are built by Bath Iron Works and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It also includes $90.5 million toward the Zumwaltclass destroyer series which are being built solely in Bath.
BIW had no comment on the legislation.
Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, was also a co-sponsor on an amendment that makes it the government’s policy to pursue a 355-ship Navy.
“Maine has a long and storied history of working to strengthen our national security interests, and I am proud the 2018 NDAA builds on their good work and bolsters our state’s vital role in protecting our nation,” said King in a press release. “By passing this bill the Senate has helped ensure these dedicated Americans have the resources they need to do their jobs, defend our country here at home, and support our service members stationed around the globe.”
Not included in the final bill was an amendment from Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, that would have overturned President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. That amendment will instead be considered as a separate bill.
Also not included in the 2018 NDAA is a new Base Realignment and Closure process, as requested in the president’s budget. The last BRAC process was in 2005, and resulted in the closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station.
nstrout@timesrecord.com
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• THE SENATE version includes more than $5 billion toward procurement of three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which are built by Bath Iron Works and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
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