WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that the final 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, as agreed upon by the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and released late last night, authorizes several policy and funding measures important to Maine and its defense-related industries.

“This bill is a reflection of our defense priorities as a nation, and its priorities demonstrate that Maine continues to play a highly-valued role in the mission to protect and defend our country,” Senator King said. “The investments in shipbuilding, military construction, energy conservation, and other projects will not only help bolster our national defense capabilities, but also strengthen the Maine economy by putting talented Mainers to work in defense-related industry jobs across the state.”

• FUNDING FOR SHIPBUILDING PRIORITIES: The bill authorizes more than $3 billion for Navy destroyer programs, including $419 million for the construction of DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, $2.67 billion for the procurement of two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, one of which will be built at Bath as a part of the 5-ship multiyear procurement for Bath that was announced last year, and $134 million for DDG-51 advanced procurement.

• MILITARY CONSTRUCTION: The bill authorizes $32 million to construct a National Guard/Reserve Center Joint Force Headquarters in Augusta.

• PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD ENERGY CONSERVATION PROJECTS: The bill authorizes $2.7 million for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) to be used for energy conservation projects. PNSY is a nationally recognized leader in energy efficiency and sustainability efforts, projects that Senator King saw firsthand while touring the shipyard last year.

• YORK RIVER STUDY: The bill also contains a bipartisan, bicameral package of public land provisions, including legislation introduced by Senator King last year that would authorize a multi-year study of the York River to determine whether it is suitable to be designated as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River. Senator King urged leaders of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to include the bill in the larger lands package. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, the original sponsor of the bill, introduced companion language in the House of Representatives, which passed on its own earlier this year.

In addition, the bill also authorizes more than $6 billion in funds for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, components of which are built at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick and General Dynamics’ facility in Saco; $8.4 million for the procurement of the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station, or CROWS, portions of which are built in Biddeford, South Paris, and Arundel; and $124 million for the research and development of aerospace and propulsion systems. The University of Maine conducts research on new propulsion and power technologies.

Regrettably, the language authored by Senator King in the Senate version of the NDAA to improve the eligibility criteria of HUBZones located at former U.S. military installations closed through the Base Closure and Realignment, or BRAC, process was not accepted by the House of Representatives.

“I’m disappointed the House failed to follow the Senate’s lead and include my provision to improve to the HUBZone program,” Senator King said. “This was a chance to jumpstart economic development and create jobs in communities hit hard by base closures. I will continue to do all that I can to advance this issue and help these communities as they work to rebound and redevelop.”

The 2015 NDAA authorizes funding for the Department of Defense as well as national security programs under the Department of Energy and is based substantially on two bills: 1) H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which passed the House of Representatives on May 22nd by a vote of 325-98; and 2) S.2410, which was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee – with the support of Senator King – on the same day by a vote of 25-1. The two bills were merged through a series of negotiations led by the leadership of the two committees. The resulting conference report is expected to pass the House this week followed by the Senate next week.

The legislation provides for the pay and benefits earned by members of the military and their families, provides for national defense including authorization of funds for counter-ISIL operations in Iraq and Syria, and represents a broad, bipartisan consensus about America’s national security goals, resources, and policies.

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