American Shipbuilding Association

Honored for consistent leadership in support of a strong shipbuilding industrial base, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) was presented with the American Shipbuilding Association’s Herbert H. Bateman Award during a ceremony held on June 6th.  The Bateman Award is the shipbuilding industry’s highest honor. 

“Senator Collins is a consistent, strong advocate for the shipbuilding industry of the United States,” said American Shipbuilding Association President Cynthia L. Brown.  Highlighting the Senator’s leadership in support of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, Ms. Brown noted how Senator Collins “helped defeat the Navy’s ‘one shipyard’ policy to ensure that both Bath Iron Works and Ingalls continue to design and build surface combatants for the Navy.  She promotes alternative financing methods for naval ships in order to increase the number of ships contracted annually, and champions legislation to require that ships for our military be built in American shipyards.” 

In her remarks upon accepting the award, Sen. Collins commented that “from sail to steam to the atom, America’s shipyards have truly been the arsenal of democracy… I have fought for shipbuilding and acquisition policies that will keep the United States Navy pre-eminent, our shipyards strong, and our skilled workers building the best ships in the world.” 

The Herbert H. Bateman award was established by the American Shipbuilding Association in 2000.  This Award is given annually to an individual in the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, or industry who has demonstrated years of consistent, outstanding, and inspirational leadership in fighting for a stronger shipbuilding industry.  Congressman Herbert H. Bateman (R-VA), the award’s namesake who served the First District of Virginia from 1981-2000, demonstrated these qualities throughout his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Previous recipients of the Herbert H. Bateman award are:  Rep. Herbert H. Bateman (R-VA); Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME); Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS); Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK); Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA); Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), and Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA).

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has completed work on its version of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (S 1547).  The Senate bill provides $12.5 billion for the acquisition of five ships – three fewer than the House Bill (HR 1585).  The House version of the bill authorizes $15 billion for ship procurement compared to the Senate’s $12.5 billion.

The Senate legislation authorizes funding for one aircraft carrier, one Virginia class attack submarine, one amphibious transport dock ship, one littoral combat ship, and one combat force logistics ship.  The Senate bill also provides $470 million for the advance procurement of a second Virginia class submarine and authorizes multi-year procurement authority for the next block of submarines.  In the Committee report accompanying the bill, Members of the SASC voiced their concern about the projected drop in the number of attack class submarines below the force structure requirement of 48 submarines.  The Committee urges the Navy to find ways to avoid or mitigate the drop in the number of submarines, though cautions against extending the length of deployments to compensate for the shortfall. 

The Senate authorization for only one littoral combat ship is one ship less than the Administration’s amended budget request for two of these vessels in FY 2008.  The Senate bill also attaches restrictions as to how the funds may be used.  While expressing disappointment with the cost increases and delivery delays in the program, the Committee expressed its desire to give the Navy and industry a chance to improve management of the program.  The Secretary of Defense is required to submit a report to Congress by August 1, 2007, on a revised acquisition strategy for the littoral combat ship program.   

The Navy’s unfunded priority list included one additional amphibious transport dock ship (LPD) and a second combat force logistics ship (T-AKE).  The House bill provides for the procurement of both of these vessels, but the Senate bill does not.  The SASC did, however, state its concern about the reduction in the size of the LPD San Antonio class from 12 to 9 ships.  In the accompanying bill report, the SASC references testimony from the Marine Corps that a minimum of 10 LPDs are needed to satisfy forcible entry requirements.  The Committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to submit a report to Congress by November 1, 2007, outlining the funding required to procure an additional LPD. 

The SASC is also requiring the Secretary of the Navy to begin including an addendum to its annual future years defense plan to Congress that addresses the Navy’s plan for inactive ships.  The Committee notes that the Navy’s plan for a 313-ship fleet contains many shortfalls to the aircraft carrier, submarine, surface combatant, and expeditionary warfare fleets, and is concerned that vessels are being retired or disposed of with remaining service life capabilities.  The SASC requests that the Navy include a list of all ships scheduled to be decommissioned or dismantled and the capability gaps that will occur when these ships are removed from the fleet.

The full Senate is expected to vote on its FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill after the July 4th recess. 

Representatives Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), Chairs of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, sent a letter to House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Murtha (D-PA) and Ranking Member Bill Young (R-FL) urging the Subcommittee to include language in the FY 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars to fund leases of foreign-built ships by the Department of Defense (DOD) for more than two years. 

For the past four years, Reps. Taylor and Davis have sponsored legislation in the House Defense Authorization Bills to close the loophole that DOD is using to purchase via long-term leases foreign-built ships to meet America’s dedicated military sealift missions.  The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has continually refused to adopt the House legislation during conference on the bills.  Despite the efforts of Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and other Senators on the SASC to include comparable legislation in the Senate Defense Authorization Bill, the SASC refuses to end DOD’s growing reliance on foreign countries to satisfy America’s military sealift needs.  The House and Senate Appropriations Committees will have to act to end this practice that harms the U.S. shipbuilding industry in view of the SASC position. 

On June 15th, the House of Representatives passed its version of the FY 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (HR 2638) which provides $698 million for the Coast Guard’s Deepwater Program, including $220 million for ships.  Senate Appropriators reported their FY 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (S 1644) out of Committee on June 14th.  The Senate legislation appropriates $770 million for Deepwater, providing $240 million for the procurement of surface ships.  Both the House and Senate versions of the legislation appropriate amounts less than the Administration’s budget request of $837 million for the program, with $297 million for surface ships. 

The cuts made by the House and Senate are primarily in response to concerns that have arisen regarding cost increases in the program and the Coast Guard’s overall management of the program.  In an effort to improve the administration of all acquisition programs contained in Deepwater and improve oversight, both versions of the House and Senate legislation aim at implementing detailed administrative reforms.  While the House and Senate bills differ in their approaches, both legislative bodies agree that in addition to enacting administrative reforms, the Coast Guard must submit to Congress a revised acquisition plan for Deepwater and include more detailed information regarding cost, schedules, and out-year funding estimates.  Congress is also directing the Coast Guard, rather than private sector firms, to manage the program.

Located in New Iberia, Louisiana, LandCoast Insulation fabricates and installs thermal and cryogenic insulation for large and small bore pipe, equipment, boilers, flat work and ducting. 

A designer and manufacturer of ‘off the shelf’ and custom power distribution units, power control panels, racks and enclosures, Marway Power Solutions is a manufacturer of systems and components for the Virginia class submarine.  The company is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Specializing in industrial and commercial electrical construction, Synergy Electric Co. of Santee, California, is involved with facility construction and improvement projects at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company of San Diego, California. 

Make A Difference

The House and Senate are currently working on the FY 2008 Authorization and Appropriation Bills that will shape the future of America’s Navy and Coast Guard fleets.  Your elected officials need to hear from you on the importance of maintaining a robust fleet of American-built ships both for force projection and protection of our shores.  Join the grassroots movement aimed at ensuring America maintains the strongest, most capable fleet in the world.  Sign up to be a Sea Power Ambassador.  www.seapowerambassador.org.