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ARLEIGH BURKE-CLASS DESTROYER USS Rafael Peralta, then under construction at Bath Iron Works in this 2015, photo provided by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. This year’s defense bill contains funding for additional destroyers that may be built at the Bath shipyard. COURTESY OF GENERAL DYNAMICS BATH IRON WORKS VIA AP
ARLEIGH BURKE-CLASS DESTROYER USS Rafael Peralta, then under construction at Bath Iron Works in this 2015, photo provided by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. This year’s defense bill contains funding for additional destroyers that may be built at the Bath shipyard. COURTESY OF GENERAL DYNAMICS BATH IRON WORKS VIA AP

BATH

Bath Iron Works stands to benefit if Congress approves a $639 billion defense bill for 2019.

The bill was reported out of conference Tuesday, after lawmakers from the House and Senate came to a compromise on the spending. That version of the bill will go to both chambers for approval before heading to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The legislation includes $5.17 billion for three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in 2019. It includes $642 million for future procurements, as well as $271 million for the Zumwalt-class destroyer program. Bath Iron Works competes to build Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and is building all three Zumwalt-class destroyers. The bill does not appear to include funding for a third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in 2020, which was part of the original senate bill.

Both Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, and Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, were conferees on the compromise legislation.

“At a time when we are facing a number of serious threats across the globe, the conference committee has produced a bipartisan bill that makes smart investments in our national defense and once again funds a number of priorities important to Maine including shipbuilding and infrastructure improvements at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,” said King in a statement. “The continued inclusion of Maine-based projects reflects the importance of our state to the continued defense of the nation.”

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