November 15, 2024
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Defense spending bill to boost Maine Snowe, Collins applaud measure that will help BIW, other state agencies

WASHINGTON – The $345 billion-dollar defense spending bill passed by the Senate Tuesday includes money for projects related to Maine.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe praised the passage of the bill, which was approved by a vote of 99-0.

“This bill provides congressional authority for programs and projects that not only will benefit Maine’s manufacturing and research economies, but also contribute to the modernization of the armed forces in dealing with the array of 21st century threats to our national security,” Snowe said in a statement.

Projects related to Maine include:

. Nearly $3 billion for the procurement of three DDG-51 Arleigh-Burke class destroyers, one of which will be built at Bath Iron Works; $643.5 million for the DD-21 Zumwalt class destroyer program for which BIW is competing to be the lead shipyard.

. $3 million for a P-3 support facility at Brunswick Naval Air Station; more than $41.6 million for a new maintenance hangar; and $22.63 million for quarters to house junior enlisted officers.

. More than $14.6 million for housing at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery and $4 million for the shipyard apprentice program.

. $3 million to develop a prototype structure for high-speed hybrid ships. The project is being developed through the University of Maine and Applied Thermal Science of Sanford.

. More than $11.6 million for the Maine National Guard Army aviation support facility in Bangor.

. Other projects include those involving such companies in Maine as Pratt and Whitney, General Dynamics Armament Systems, Fiber Materials Inc. and Technology Systems Inc.

Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, said she is delighted by the passage of two provisions of which she was the author.

One will keep trucks hauling jet fuel off roads that run through Maine towns by allowing the Defense Department to waive vehicle weight limits on interstate routes in the state. The other allows military spouses to choose doctors for OB-GYN and prenatal care.


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