(Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Jim Langevin today will vote for H.R. 1585 – the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.  This bill authorizes defense programs in FY 2008 and establishes policy guidance for the Department of Defense and other national security-related agencies.  The defense appropriations bill is expected to be decided later this year.

“I am pleased that this measure recognizes the importance of submarines to our national security,” said Langevin. “This is welcome news to the men and women at Electric Boat in Rhode Island, as well as our entire submarine industrial base, which is threatened by an insufficient workload. I have been working for six years to address this important national security issue, and I thank my colleagues for their commitment to a robust submarine force.”

 The following three measures are included in the bill at Langevin’s urging:
• $588 million in additional funding for advanced procurement for components of an additional Virginia-class submarine to be built as early as FY 2009 –  three years earlier than scheduled.  The funds would be used to build an extra reactor core, propulsion system and other components that will help expedite construction and lower the cost of future submarines. 

• Reauthorization of multiyear procurement authority for Virginia-class subs, which will allow the Navy to enter into a long-term contract with industry for submarine construction between FY2009 and FY2013.  Multiyear procurement helps create stability in the industrial base and lowers purchasing costs by allowing distributors to plan long-term for supplies they need.  (The current multi-year plan (FY2004-2008) saved approximately $400 million or about $80 million per ship.)
 
• $10 million for Project Athena, a maritime security, coastal surveillance system for monitoring waterborne traffic and the maritime domain.  Funding will be used to expand Project Athena's existing capabilities to incorporate chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear, explosion threat detection and to deploy the system to strategic locations to offer monitoring capabilities to military personnel and civilian first responders.

This legislation also tries to reverse the decline in readiness of the military due to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It adds funds for force protection programs such as mine resistant combat vehicles, IED countermeasures and body armor.  It also honors the service of our men and women in uniform by including a 3.5 percent pay raise, retention bonuses and improvements to defense health programs.

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