Bath, ME – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King toured manufacturing and training facilities at Bath Iron Works with Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to see firsthand the important work being done at the shipyard.  The Senators hosted Secretary Del Toro in Maine today and participated in a groundbreaking at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery this morning.

“It was a pleasure to host Secretary Del Toro in Maine to tour Bath Iron Works,” said Senator Collins. “I am proud of the highly skilled employees at BIW who build the best ships in the world. Today’s visit provided the Secretary with the opportunity to see the impressive work they do to support our Navy.  The value of our naval assets and shipyards to our national security has never been greater.  As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to be a strong advocate for the shipyard.”

“Today, Secretary Del Toro got to see firsthand how critically important Bath Iron Works is to both Maine’s economy and the readiness of our Navy,” said Senator King. “BIW’s generations of consistent excellence have cemented a world-renowned reputation that Bath Built is Best Built. As the Navy takes on a larger role in America’s national security and aims to increase the overall size of its fleet, the hardworking men and women of BIW are ready to deliver world-class ships that keep our sailors safe.”

Secretary Del Toro and Senators Collins and King toured BIW’s facilities, including the Training Academy, where workers learn the skills they need to become pipefitters, welders, tinsmiths, and other tradespeople.

Earlier this year, the Maine Delegation hosted Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Mike Gilday at BIW.

In March, the Maine Delegation sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, urging them to provide unequivocal support to the long-standing and congressionally mandated requirement for a larger and more capable Navy fleet.  In addition, Senators Collins and King joined a bipartisan group in introducing the SHIPYARD Act, which would provide $25 billion to make investments needed to optimize, improve, and rebuild shipyard facilities, electrical infrastructure, environmental systems, and the equipment of public and private shipyards in the U.S. that support the U.S. Navy fleet.