The U.S. Senate’s adoption of the final version of the $288.8 billion 2000 Defense Authorization Bill provides much good news for Rhode Island’s defense industry. The biggest winners include General Dynamics/Electric Boat, Raytheon and Textron.
Another big winner is the Community College of Rhode Island, which appears poised to get a satellite campus in Newport as an indirect result of the bill.
Overall, the spending package represents $8.3 more in defense spending than had been requested by President Clinton. The dramatic increases in federal defense spending underscores a commitment to both the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport and the Rhode Island Air National Guard.
Among the highlights of the bill:
A total of $1.01 billion in funding for the Virginia-class submarine program. These funds include $280.6 million in research and development funds and $748.5 million in advanced procurement for future ships. Some of the research and development funding will go to NUWC/Newport.
$13 million for design concepts for conversion of four SSBN Trident submarines into a tactical platform, called “SSGN.” This conversion could be worth as much as $1.5 billion to Electric Boat.
$16.5 million for a new hangar at the Quonset State Airport for the Rhode Island National Guard.
A legislative provision mandating conveyance of a 15-acre parcel of unused Navy property (the “Ranger Road property”) to the City of Newport. The site is expected to be used for a CCRI satellite campus and for state office space.
Continued funding for several programs important to Raytheon’s Portsmouth plant, including $15 million for the Volume Search Radar Program; $18 million for the Integrated Combat Weapon System; $36.9 million for the Advanced Deployable System; $41.8 million for Joint Tactical Combat Training System; $14 million for the AN/SPS-73 Surface Search Radar program; $10.8 million for the MK 30 torpedo training system; and $13.3 million for the AQS-20X mine-hunting sonar system.
Funding to upgrade Bradley A2 (KVH Industries of Middletown will receive a portion of the funding to manufacture the compass for these armored vehicles).
$3.4 million for MedTeams, an Army medical program that will improve emergency medical care in the military. Rhode Island Hospital is a key program participant.
The Rhode Island Congressional delegation lobbied hard for the increases in military spending. U.S. Sen. John H. Chafee worked with several key members of the Senate Armed Services Committee for the last several weeks in an effort to obtain the funds.
“These provisions are important not only for the maintenance of a technologically advanced and modern military, but they are critical components of our state’s workforce and regional economy,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy also lobbied for the increases in military spending. Kennedy pointed to a $27.5 Navy contract awarded to Raytheon Systems Company of Portsmouth as evidence of the hard work of the company’s employees.
“The men and women at Raytheon make tremendous contributions to our national security,” he said. “A strong Raytheon unquestionably bolsters the economy of the region.”
