WASHINGTON – Congress has finished work on a final defense authorization bill that boosts military spending and provides more dollars for Connecticut defense contractors.
James Mattis
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.
Blumenthal, Murphy say White House briefing on North Korea revealed little
WASHINGTON — Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy on Wednesday joined all of their Senate colleagues on a bus to the White House for a classified briefing on North Korea, but they and other senators from both parties said they left without learning much new.
Despite CT lawmakers’ opposition, Congress approves Mattis waiver
WASHINGTON — Despite opposition from every member of the Connecticut congressional delegation, a bill containing a waiver that would let retired Gen. James Mattis serve as defense secretary is on its way to President Obama, who says he will sign it.
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.
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.
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.
Blumenthal uncertain over confirmation vote for Mattis
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a member of the Armed Services Committee, said Monday that he had doubts about waiving a rule barring President-elect Trump from naming former General James Mattis or any other military officer as defense secretary so soon after retirement.