BATH

A multi-billion-dollar defense bill that includes funding for ships being built at Bath Iron Works cleared a couple of key hurdles this week.

On Thursday the House passed the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act — a $717 billion bill that funds the Department of Defense. The bill will now go to the Senate, whose Armed Services Committee has approved the bill. Committee member Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, noted a number of provisions he supported will benefit Maine.

The legislation authorizes $5.2 billion for the procurement of three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in fiscal year 2019. Bath Iron Works may compete against Mississippi based Ingalls Shipbuilding for those contracts. The bill also includes $642 million for future Arleigh Burke procurements.

Also included is $271 million for the continued production of the advanced Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers. All Zumwalt-class vessels are being built at BIW; the third and final ship of its class, the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson, is under construction at the shipyard.

“This year’s legislation includes funds for continued shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works, military construction to modernize Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, as well as the production of aircraft parts and other military requirements at additional sites throughout Maine,” King said in a statement. “The Committee’s passage of this legislation is welcome news, as the bill will continue to support good-paying Maine jobs that boost our security at home and abroad.”

The legislation also authorizes:

 $161.2 million for infrastructure modernizations at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery;

 $310.4 million for the Bradley Program, supporting General Dynamics’s manufacturing facility in Saco;

 $1.27 billion to procure eight CH-53K helicopters, whose rotor shafts are built by Hunting Dearborn in Fryeburg

 $192.6 million for the Improved Turbine Engine Program, benefiting Honeywell in Westbrook, and Pratt and Whitney in North Berwick.

Maine’s House delegation also lauded the bill.

“The National Defense Authorization Act for FY19 is critical for Maine’s economy in a number of ways. I am proud to support funding for the DDG-1000 and DDG-51 ships, ensuring economic security for the world-class shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works,” said Rep. Chellie Pingree, DMaine, who voted for the bill. “This bill isn’t perfect — few are. I was deeply disappointed by this bill’s cuts to programs such as the Office of Economic Adjustment.

“It has provided important funding for the economic redevelopment efforts at Brunswick Landing, the site of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station,” she added. “As the bill makes its way toward final passage, I will work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to try to restore funding.”

“America’s might around the world depends on our shipbuilders at BIW, and I’m extremely pleased this Defense bill will continue giving them the support to do their jobs in building the most modern ships on the planet,” said Rep. Bruce Poliquin, RMaine.

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