Washington – The U.S. House on Thursday rejected Rep. Joe Courtney’s bid to require the Pentagon to spend an additional $1 billion this year for additional Virginia-class submarines made by Electric Boat, a move strongly opposed by the Defense Department. The Pentagon successfully argued that spending more on the Electric Boat-made subs would siphon off funds from other military priorities.
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U.S. House set to settle Courtney dispute with Pentagon over sub production
WASHINGTON – Rep. Joe Courtney will go head to head with the Pentagon on Thursday over the number of submarines the Pentagon should buy. “Two subs” Joe wants the Pentagon to increase procurement from two to three in certain years; a top Pentagon official says that would divert money from other programs and opposes the move.
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Congress’ efforts to avoid another shutdown feature last-minute deals
Updated at 7:20 p.m.
WASHINGTON — To avoid another government shutdown, the U.S. House on Tuesday passed a spending bill that would fund the Pentagon until the end of the federal fiscal year – with big boosts for the Connecticut defense industry — and keep other federal agencies running until March 23. But approval of the bill is just one maneuver in a complex budget dance between congressional Republicans and Democrats this week that also will feature a face-off between the House and Senate.
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House defense bill dashes hopes for increased EB sub production
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House is poised to throw cold water on plans to increase the rate of submarine building at Electric Boat. That’s because a defense spending bill the House hopes to vote on Friday does not contain language or money that would allow the Navy to purchase the next block of Virginia-class submarines and increase a two-a-year production rate to three.
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Larson makes big push for more F-35 fighter jets
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Larson is spearheading a push to substantially boost defense budget spending on additional F-35 fighter jets, but success is not assured.