With a growing workload forecast for Electric Boat’s sub facility at Quonset Point, Sen. Reed successfully delivers billions for submarine construction as well as $130 million for submarine supplier development 

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today highlighted critical funding he helped include in the fiscal year 2022 omnibus spending bill, which includes appropriations for the Department of Defense.  This new federal funding will help keep America safe, deter conflict, and bring more work to Rhode Island’s defense manufacturing sector. 

The Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill provides a total of $743.4 billion for the Department of Defense and prioritizes essential resources for our troops, invests in the readiness and capabilities of U.S. forces, and strengthens America’s defense manufacturing capabilities, including Navy shipyards and submarine manufacturing facilities.  Last night, the Senate passed this legislation by a vote of 68-31, providing funding for the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year and preventing a government shutdown. 

Submarines are among the military’s most versatile and important assets.  Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower enable them to support core maritime capabilities: sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

The U.S. Navy has started production of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.  This requires the submarine industrial base to move from building two Block IV Virginia-class attack submarines to building two larger Block V Virginia SSNs a year, as well as one Columbia SSBN a year.

As a leading authorizer and appropriator, Senator Reed is responsible for writing key legislation that authorizes and funds the Department of Defense each year.  Reed helped secure critical funds for submarine construction in Rhode Island, which has seen a significant boost in recent construction activity on Virginia-class submarines, and as Columbia-class work has commenced.

“This defense appropriations bill charts the right course and means Rhode Island workers can go full throttle to help building the world's most advanced submarines.  Electric Boat estimates it will need to hire over 1,250 more workers this year in Rhode Island to keep pace with demand.  That is good news for the state and the result of many years of hard work.  The $130 million for submarine supplier development in this bill is good news for small manufacturers and local suppliers and vendors that do business with Electric Boat,” said Reed.  “I will continue working to ensure we have a strong pipeline of well-qualified workers to fill these jobs and get the work done in a timely and efficient manner.  A robust submarine fleet is vital to national security, and I salute the men and women of Electric Boat who contribute their skill and talent to building these state-of-the-art submarines.”

A number of key Rhode Island-related projects and priorities are included in this bipartisan defense spending legislation, such as:

  • $6.4 billion to fully support construction of two Virginia-class submarines;
  • $4.78 billion to fully support construction of the Columbia-class (Ohio-class Replacement) Program, including an additional $130 million to support stability in the submarine industrial base;
  • More than $100 million for Navy applied research on undersea warfare technologies, led by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, including $25 million to support Navy and academia submarine partnerships, of which the University of Rhode Island has been a leader.
  • Additional funding for university research activities, including $19 million for the Defense Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR), which ensures Rhode Island universities may compete to perform cutting-edge basic research and partner with defense labs;
  • $20 million for workforce and training initiatives to support the production of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and the continued construction of the Virginia-class submarine;
  • $15 million in additional funding for planning and design of Navy lab modernization construction projects, to include $8.3 million for four projects at NUWC;
  • $50 million for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, which provides support to small businesses seeking to contract with the Defense Department;
  • $50 million in supplemental Impact Aid, and $20 million in Impact Aid for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities.

The bill now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.