Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) said Thursday he will continue to serve on the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee.
Golden said in press release that he planned to use the position, in part, to secure lucrative contracts for General Dynamics, the international defense contractor that owns Bath Iron Works.
In a press release published by Golden’s congressional office, a top BIW union official praised the appointment.
“Jared Golden’s appointment to the House Armed Services Committee has been crucial for the men and women of Local S6 at Bath Iron Works building ships for the U.S. Navy,” said Chris Williams, president of Machinists Local S6.
The new Republican leadership of the committee has signalled early on that their focus will be on the potential threat of the Communist Party in the People’s Republic of China.
Next week, the committee is holding hearing on the “threat of the Chinese Communist Party to U.S. National Defense.”
Also Thursday, Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) said upcoming negotiations over the annual defense appropriations bill — the National Defense Authorization Act — would focus on the PRC.
“We will examine the threats we face from China and how best to prepare our military to deter and defeat them,” said Rogers.
Golden will also serve on the House Small Business Committee.