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.
Electric Boat
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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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Senate approves massive defense bill, but trims number of F-35s
WASHINGTON – The Senate late Monday approved a $716 billion defense authorization bill that trims the number of F-35’s the Pentagon can purchase this year, but allows for more spending on Electric Boat submarine programs and Sikorsky-made helicopters. “Five percent of our country’s defense spending is done in Connecticut,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal said.
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White House objects to three-subs-a-year plan
WASHINGTON – The White House’s Office of Management and Budget has objected to a provision in a massive defense bill approved by the House Thursday that would press the Navy to procure two additional Virginia-class subs in 2022 and 2023. The White House said those additional subs, manufactured by Electric Boat, exceeds President Donald Trump’s request for 10 subs, not 12, in the Navy’s next contract with EB.
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New defense bill increases sub production, other CT defense work
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.
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Malloy pledges millions in state aid as EB ramps up sub production
WASHINGTON — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Tuesday pledged tens of millions of dollars in state funds, loans and tax breaks to help Electric Boat ramp up for increased submarine production in Connecticut.
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CT lawmakers help pass massive spending bill
Updated at 12:55 a.m. Friday
WASHINGTON — Connecticut’s entire congressional delegation voted for a massive, $1.3 trillion federal budget bill that will provide the state with millions of additional dollars for education, health care and transportation and boost production in the state’s defense industry.
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CT defense industry a likely loser under Trump tariff plan
WASHINGTON — Connecticut’s defense industry would be a likely loser if President Donald Trump moves forward with his intention to raise tariffs on imported aluminum and steel. The main reason — foreign governments could retaliate by purchasing fewer U.S. made planes, helicopters and jet engines.
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Trump budget calls for huge increases in CT-made subs, ‘copters
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s new budget would dramatically boost spending on the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines built by Electric Boat in Connecticut and sharply increase the Pentagon’s purchase of Sikorsky helicopters in the next federal fiscal year. While those increases may be approved by Congress, much of Trump’s budget was considered DOA.
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Budget deal has plenty for Connecticut
WASHINGTON – In rare bipartisan agreement, Congress on Friday approved a massive budget deal that will increase federal spending in Connecticut, providing big boosts for the state’s defense industry and health care programs and even helping schools educate displaced students from Puerto Rico. Every member of Connecticut’s congressional delegation, all Democrats, voted for the package.
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CT lawmakers weigh revival of earmarks
WASHINGTON — Reviled as corrupting and anti-democratic, congressional earmarks may have a revival because of recent comments from President Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers’ growing frustration with the budget process. Their return is fine with Connecticut lawmakers who have used the process to steer tens of millions of dollars to special projects in the state.
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Budget impasse hurts CT defense industry, young immigrants, others
WASHINGTON — Whether, and how, Congress comes to an agreement on a massive spending bill to fund the federal government will impact Connecticut in several ways. The health of the state’s defense industry, as well as that of thousands of Connecticut children, and the fate of immigrant youth and the Affordable Care Act are at stake.
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Congress turns its sights on budget mess that has special impact in CT
WASHINGTON — Consumed by its effort to pass a federal tax overhaul this week, Congress has failed to pass a budget that would keep the federal government operating past midnight on Friday. Attempts to find a solution to this problem will have their impact in Connecticut, determining how long the state can continue a health program for children and how long its defense contractors can hire new workers.
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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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Navy says sub ramp-up ‘viable’ and desirable
WASHINGTON — The Navy gave Electric Boat good news on Friday with a report that said increasing the production of Virginia-class submarines while the shipyard builds a new Columbia-class ballistic missile sub is “viable” and could save taxpayers money.