WASHINGTON — House and Senate Armed Services panels have finished work on bills that would allow increased submarine production and boost the Pentagon’s authority to buy Sikorsky-made helicopters and F-35 fighter jets whose engines are made by Pratt & Whitney.
Electric Boat
Posted inPolitics
U.S. House panel boosts plans for EB submarine construction
WASHINGTON — The House Armed Services Committee has moved to boost submarine construction, which would allow Electric Boat to build an additional Virginia-class sub in the years 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal, Murphy, ask for more money for submarine construction
WASHINGTON — Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy on Thursday asked Senate appropriators for $150 million in additional advance procurement money for the new Columbia-class submarine that will be largely built by Electric Boat. The money would help suppliers, many of them in Connecticut, get ready for the massive new nuclear sub program.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Federal budget deal boosts defense projects, other programs in CT
WASHINGTON — Connecticut’s defense industry is a big winner in a new budget deal that will keep the federal government running through September. It allows the Pentagon to increase the number of F-35 fighters and nearly double the number of Sikorsky Black Hawks it purchases this year. The bipartisan bill also funds a number of domestic programs important to the state, including the National Coast Guard Museum.
Posted inPolitics
Navy plan to build more subs could strain capacity at EB
WASHINGTON — The Navy’s plans to boost the number of ships and submarines would cost more than $100 billion a year and pose a challenge to the capacity of the nation’s shipbuilders, especially those building subs like Electric Boat, a new government report said.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Murphy, Courtney: Trump cuts to job training grants could hurt EB
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s budget calls for cutting manufacturing training money that has helped provide hard-to-find skilled workers for Electric Boat and its suppliers, even as the president wants to ramp up building submarines. “This is exactly the wrong direction we should be going,” said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District.
Posted inPolitics
Push is on for more F-35s, Sikorsky helicopters and work for EB
Defense hawks are hoping the Trump administration will agree to a supplemental defense bill, and an increase in defense spending in the next annual budget. President Donald Trump has vowed to rebuild the military — and “to load it up” with “beautiful new equipment.”
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers vote against waiver for defense secretary nominee Mattis
WASHINGTON — Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Thursday voted against granting retired Marine Gen. James Mattis a waiver that would allow him to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of defense. Blumenthal was only one of three members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to vote against a waiver.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Electric Boat: Boost in sub building means boost in CT jobs
WASHINGTON — Increased federal spending on submarine building this year will lead to the hiring of 1,350 employees in Connecticut by Electric Boat in 2017, for a net gain of 800 jobs, the company said Monday.
Posted inNews
Navy moves forward on new Columbia-class submarines
The Navy has officially approved the start of detailed design and engineering work on what will be the priciest sub its fleet has ever had – good news for Electric Boat in Groton and its subcontractors.
Posted inNews
Navy boosts projections for Virginia-class submarines
WASHINGTON — The Navy on Friday sharply increased its projections for how many Virginia-class attack submarines it needs from 48 to 66 – opening the door to boosting production to three subs a year. “It’s the first time the Navy has taken a new look at submarines since 2004, and it’s long overdue,” said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District.
Posted inPolitics
U.S. House approves stopgap bill that helps CT defense industry
WASHINGTON — Connecticut lawmakers on Thursday helped pass a stopgap spending bill that would prevent a government shutdown – and ease the way for the confirmation of retired Gen. James N. Mattis as the next secretary of defense – but there’s trouble in the Senate.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers torn between funds for subs and waiver for Mattis
WASHINGTON – A stopgap measure to fund the federal government would allow work to continue on a new Connecticut-built ballistic missile submarine while also expediting the controversial nomination of retired Gen. James N. Mattis as the next secretary of defense, posing a tough choice for Connecticut’s lawmakers.
Posted inPolitics
Defense hawks hope Trump keeps vow to boost military spending
WASHINGTON — The House has approved a $619 billion defense bill and the Senate is expected to follow this week, but there’s a push to add F-35s, Black Hawk helicopters and other military hardware to the Pentagon’s shopping list early next year, right after President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
Posted inNews
Blumenthal: Lame duck need not be lame
WASHINGTON — Congress returns to work this week for a lame-duck session aimed at trying to set aside partisan differences long enough to keep the government from closing. Connecticut’s two Democratic senators also hope some of the state’s priorities will survive in the next six weeks.
