Bill to Support Shipbuilding, Defense Manufacturing, and Jobs in Maine Heads to President’s Desk

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured funding and legislative language to support Maine's shipyards, defense manufacturing base, and research institutions through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Defense Appropriations Act. The bill, which passed the Senate last week and was approved by the House of Representatives today, now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.

"This legislation makes targeted investments to strengthen our national security while supporting Maine workers and our defense industrial base," said Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee. "From shipbuilding and shipyard modernization to advanced manufacturing and research, this bill will help ensure that the State of Maine continues to play a vital role in meeting our nation's defense needs."

Funding and legislative language secured by Senator Collins includes:

DDG-51s. The bill includes $1 billion in advance procurement for a third FY27 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The bill also includes $450 million for in modernizing shipyard infrastructure and $300 million for DDG shipyard wage enhancements that will be split by Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) in Mississippi. Finally, the bill includes an additional $181.5 million for the completion of prior DDG-51s.

Navy Shipyard Apprenticeship. The bill includes annual report language directing each public shipyard to induct no fewer than 100 apprentices and to include the cost of the apprenticeships in the FY26 budget request.

Ship Depot Maintenance. The bill includes nearly $19 billion for operational maintenance and parts procurements in support of the Navy's operational fleet, which funds much of the work at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Kittery.

Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP). The bill includes $2.7 billion for SIOP to support critical dry dock repairs and infrastructure upgrades necessary to sustain nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. It also includes language directing the Secretary of the Navy to brief the Committees on Appropriations not later than 90 days after enactment of the bill and on a quarterly basis thereafter on the Navy's progress implementing SIOP at each of the nation's four public shipyards, including PNSY.

F-135 Engine. The bill includes $280 million split equally between the Navy and the Air Force for F-135 spare parts and fully funds the request of $282.5 million for the F-135 Engine Core Upgrade, which is manufactured by firms such as Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick.

Advanced manufacturing pilot. The bill includes $20 million for continued construction of the University of Maine's flagship Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing pilot facility.

Military footwear research. The bill includes $15 million to complete the final round of prototyping and testing initiatives to improve footwear for the warfighter, with a secondary benefit of strengthening the domestic footwear manufacturing industrial base.

Marine Corps Robotic Vehicle. The bill includes $44 million to support Marine Corps research and development of autonomous amphibious robotic vehicles.

Hypersonic Composite Manufacturing and Prototyping. The bill includes $37.5 million to support the development, automation, and scale-up of ultra-high-temperature ceramic and composite manufacturing technologies critical to hypersonic weapons and propulsion systems in support of multiple national defense priorities.

Energy Infrastructure Upgrades to Lower Costs at National Guard Facilities. The bill includes $5 million to upgrade energy infrastructure at the Maine Army National Guard's Bangor East Campus.

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