2018 Defense Spending Bill Would Bring Millions To Maine

The U.S. Senate version of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act contains significant funding for Maine, including $61.6 million for the construction of a paint, blast and rubber facility at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, according to a news release from independent U.S. Sen. Angus King’s office. The legislation, which the Senate passed 89-8 on Monday, also authorizes $17.5 million for the construction of a new National Guard readiness center in Presque Isle. The spending bill authorizes more than $5.62 billion for Navy destroyer programs, including more than $5 billion for the procurement of three DDG-51 Arleigh Burke destroyers in fiscal year 2018 that Bath Iron Works could compete to build, as well as more than $90.5 million for the continued production of DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, all of which are being built at BIW. “The men and women in our Armed Forces and in defense related industries – including thousands of people in Maine – serve our country with honor and distinction,” King said in the release.