{"id":54612,"date":"2020-06-11T16:07:06","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T16:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/06\/11\/senates-defense-bill-looks-to-pump-money-into-shipbuilding-materials\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:59:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:59:10","slug":"senates-defense-bill-looks-to-pump-money-into-shipbuilding-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2020\/06\/11\/senates-defense-bill-looks-to-pump-money-into-shipbuilding-materials\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate\u2019s defense bill looks to pump money into shipbuilding suppliers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Despite howls of criticism from Congress<\/a> over the Navy\u2019s seven-ship budget <\/a>request earlier this year, the Senate Armed Services Committee\u2019s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act stopped short of adding extra ships. Instead, lawmakers are opting to authorize the purchase of long-lead-time materials to keep the industrial base healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With submarine builders under strain from the coronavirus pandemic and a dearth of suppliers, Congress had sought to add a second Virginia-class submarine. But now the SASC has used its annual defense policy bill to authorize about $472 million for long-lead procurement \u201cso they can be ready to go, if not this year, than at the next opportunity,\u201d Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the committee\u2019s ranking member said Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strategy of authorizing long-lead-time materials, designed to keep steady business to critical suppliers and make canceling a ship that Congress has already spent money on more painful, was one the SASC used in other places as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strategy of authorizing long-lead-time materials is designed to maintain steady business for critical suppliers. It also has the benefit of making it difficult to cancel a ship on which Congress has already spent money. Several programs have already benefited from long-lead-time money, and for its part, SASC is looking to authorize money to the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer program, the amphibious assault ship program and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock program.<\/p>\n\n\n\t