Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

New defense bill increases sub production, other CT defense work

  • Other
  • by Ana Radelat
  • May 4, 2018
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

General Dynamics Electric Boat

A Virginia-class attack submarine

Washington – A  new defense bill, a summary of which was released Friday, would authorize increased production of Virginia-class submarines built by Electric Boat and boost other Connecticut-made defense programs by even more than President Donald Trump requested.

The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, drafted by the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, would allow the Pentagon to spend about $717 billion in the next federal fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1. That’s about $85 billion more than Trump requested in his defense budget.

The new defense bill would boost the number of Black Hawks and other types of helicopters and provides $1 billion for “long-lead-time material funding” next year to build two additional Virginia-class attack submarines, one in 2022 and one in 2023. The Navy had planned to build two Virginia-class sub in those years.

The Navy and Electric Boat are negotiating a five-year contract to build the next block of Virginia-class submarines. The last five-year contract called for 10 subs, and the five-year block before than called for only eight.

Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the NDAA “signals to both the Navy and Electric Boat that there is congressional support for 12 subs” in the next contract. Courtney also said that contract is expected to be signed at the end of this year or the beginning of next year.

“This is a major down payment,” on increased submarine production, Courtney said.

The bill does not authorize full funding for additional submarines. It only approves an additional $1 billion to begin work on them. But Courtney said he is confident Congress will approve the money to fully pay for them in future defense budgets.

This week, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced an agreement with Electric Boat aimed at helping the giant defense contractor boost construction and employment. Under the agreement, the state would help EB with about $85 million in worker training grants, tax breaks and loans that could be forgiven if certain conditions are met.

The NDAA outline also increases Trump’s request for Black Hawk helicopters – the president had asked for 50 — but it did not specify how many more. It also authorized spending on eight new heavy lift CH-53K King Stallion helicopters that, like the Black Hawks, are built by Sikorsky.

The bill also calls for 77 Lockheed Martin F-35s requested by Trump.

The bill also would implement a new law that’s the result of a bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy aimed at pressing federal agencies to improve their reporting to the FBI database that screens gun buyers.

The outline says the new defense bill “improves crime reporting by requiring DOD to establish a centralized oversight system to ensure criminal data is transmitted to the FBI database preventing the purchase of a firearm.”

A Black Hawk helicopter

The “Fix NICS Act,” included in a massive tax overhaul, aims to strengthen the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) used by the FBI to ensure convicted felons and domestic abusers cannot illegally purchase a firearm.

The database became the focus of national attention after the  U.S. Air Force disclosed it failed to report the domestic-violence history of a  gunman who killed 26 people in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. That history should have prevented the shooter from purchasing a firearm.

The summary of the NDAA also authorizes the Pentagon to organize a military parade the president has requested.

The summary says it “agrees with President Trump that it is appropriate to honor and celebrate 100 years of patriotic sacrifice in a way that expresses appreciation and admiration for our men and women in uniform, including a parade in the nation’s capital and a national celebration for that purpose.”

While the bill supports the parade, it prohibits the use of operational military units or equipment if Defense Secretary Jim Mattis believes it could hamper readiness.

Like previous defense bills, the latest one would prohibit a new base-closing round.

But it has a caveat.

The legislation would provide the Pentagon with “limited authority,” to close a base or defense installation if a governor recommends it.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ana Radelat Ana has written about politics and policy in Washington, D.C.. for Gannett, Thompson Reuters and UPI. She was a special correspondent for the Miami Herald, and a regular contributor to The New York TImes, Advertising Age and several other publications. She has also worked in broadcast journalism, for CNN and several local NPR stations. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Journalism.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Plan to expand child tax credit offers hope along with direct payments
by Lisa Backus | C-HIT.ORG

When her car started making a noise more than a year ago, Chinara Johnson parked the vehicle and hasn’t used it since. As a New Haven mother of 5-year-old twin boys, one of whom is on the autism spectrum, and an 8-year-old daughter, Johnson doesn’t have the money to get the car running properly again. […]

Capitol cop: ‘I don’t trust the people above me’
by Joaquin Sapien and Joshua Kaplan | ProPublica

How failures of leadership put Capitol cops at risk; allowed rioters to get dangerously close to members of Congress.

Miguel Cardona is one step closer to becoming next U.S. education secretary
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

In a swift meeting, senators voted 17 to 5 to forward Cardona's nomination to the U.S. Senate for final approval.

Two decades in the making, Rosa DeLauro’s plan to cut child poverty in half is on the brink of passing
by Chabeli Carrazana | The 19th

Since 2003, Rep. Rosa DeLauro has pushed to expand the child tax credit to the nation’s poorest children.

The return of the regulators
by Jesse Eisinger | ProPublica

So far in the Biden administration, Americans have been treated to an unusual sight: regulators who believe in regulation.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Assisted suicide lobby spreads falsehoods to promote systemic ableism
by Stephen Mendelsohn

Proponents of assisted suicide repeatedly spread falsehoods to promote their lethal and ableist agenda.  The February 8 op-ed, “Aid in dying is not assisted suicide” is no exception. Suicide is defined as the act of taking one’s life intentionally.  The person who intentionally ingests a prescribed lethal overdose more closely fits the dictionary definition of suicide than the despondent person who jumps off a bridge.  The desire for suicide is a cry for help, even when redefined as a “medical treatment option.”

Opinion TCI will create a fourth gasoline tax
by Christian A. Herb

The Transportation Climate Initiative, or TCI, calls for a proposed emissions fee on gasoline to help battle climate change. On the surface, supporters say it is a small price to pay to help save the planet; and if you truly believe that this is the case, then you should consider voting for it. Despite the administration’s efforts to go out of their way to not call TCI a tax, the simple truth is that it will only create additional financial hardships on lower- and middle-income families struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic.

Opinion Let’s keep telehealth when the pandemic ends
by Steven Madonick, MD

Telehealth may lead to positive, even transformational changes in psychiatric care, and Connecticut needs to keep it after the pandemic. Connecticut needs to pass the necessary laws to continue telehealth and telephonic care.

Opinion The public health bill no one is talking about, but should be
by Brian Festa

On February 16,  the legislature's Public Health Committee conducted a public hearing on two bills, S.B. 568 and H.B. 6423, both of which would eliminate the religious exemption to mandatory vaccinations for Connecticut schoolchildren.  The hearing was capped at 24 hours, depriving nearly 1,500 members of the public who had registered for the hearing their opportunity to be heard.  The vast majority of those who did testify, and who submitted written testimony, opposed the bill.  The committee is expected to vote on the bill as early as  today. 

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO