“Wake Up Republicans!” You Too Are Impacted by These Cuts to our Neval Fleet.

Today during the House Appropriations full committee markup of the FY 2027 Defense funding bill, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) spoke out against Republicans outrageous $1 trillion bill that, despite it’s enormous price tag, fails to support American shipbuilding.  In her opening remarks, Pingree contrasted the Trump Administration’s claims to support American manufacturing and long-touted “America First” mantra, while at the same time seeding the prospect of buying ships overseas.  She noted that as maritime competition is intensifying, especially in the Indo-Pacific,  Republicans’ funding bill provides funding for only one DDG-51 destroyer, which are built at Bath Iron Works in Pingree’s district.

“These ships are the backbone of our Navy and they are essential to preserving our military superiority.  And only one of those ships is provided for in this bill,” Pingree said.  “I often hear bipartisan agreement about how we need a larger, more capable fleet.  And last year, the president himself said he wanted to ‘resurrect the American shibuilding industry.’ But without investment or a strategy, that is just talk.  And it’s especially just talk in a bill that gets over $1 trillion.  If we’re serious about naval readiness, we cannot continue under investing in our ships and in our shipyards and the workforce that is needed to sustain that fleet.”