WASHINGTON — Navy Secretary Ray Mabus says the Pentagon is committed to finding the rest of the money for an additional destroyer to be built at Bath Iron Works.
Maine’s congressional delegation added $1 billion into the spending package that cleared Congress in December. But the remaining portion, about $400,000, was not included in President Obama’s defense appropriations request.
Mabus appeared Wednesday before the Senate defense appropriations subcommittee, and was asked by Sen. Susan Collins about the funding.
He said finding the extra money is a top priority and that he looks forward to working with Congress “on figuring out how to get this money.”
The ship deal arose under a longstanding swap agreement after a competing shipyard in Mississippi was awarded a contract for an additional transport dock.
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