Sen. Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced Thursday that the full committee advanced the fiscal year 2020 defense funding bill with provisions she championed that will benefit Bath Iron Works. The bill now heads to the full Senate. 

 “The value and importance of our naval assets to security and stability have never been greater, which is why it is so critical that we grow the Navy’s combat capabilities to be able to meet challenges around the world,” said Collins in a news release. “Through my senior position on the Appropriations Committee, I secured full funding for three DDG-51s and a down payment on an additional ship next year.  This funding will also help BIW make investments in the shipyard to ensure their hardworking employees have the cutting-edge tools they need to do their jobs effectively and efficiently.  BIW is home to the best shipbuilders in the world, and this funding helps them stay competitive far into the future. 

Provisions for Bath Iron Works that were incorporated in the final bill include: 

• DDG-51:  The bill supports funding for three DDG-51s, and a $390 million increase in advanced procurement for long lead time material for FY21 DDG 51 Flight III ships. 
• DDG-1000/FFG(X):  The bill fully supports the budget requests for both the DDG-1000 programs and the lead ship of the next-generation frigate program to be awarded sometime in 2020. 
• Shipyard Infrastructure Investment:  The bill supports an increase of $130 million, which BIW can draw upon to make improvements to its digital design and shipbuilding technology.

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