The Senate passed a $878 billion defense policy bill late Thursday by a vote of 77 to 20, advancing legislation that includes provisions aimed at strengthening Maine’s shipbuilders and defense manufacturers.
The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) now heads to a conference committee to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions.
U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R), who chairs the appropriations committee, said “passage of the NDAA is key for setting policy for the nation’s military priorities. The legislation would help address national security threats facing the United States, strengthen Maine’s shipbuilders and defense manufacturers, and ensure that service members have the support they need to defend the nation.”
Several provisions and amendments authored or co-authored by Sen. Collins were included in the final bill.
Importantly, the legislation authorizes $5.4 billion for DDG-51 destroyers, $900 million in advance procurement for future ships, and $450 million for large surface combatant shipyard infrastructure, with roughly one-third of that potentially benefitting Bath Iron Works.
The bill also directs the Navy to provide a stable, multi-year workload for private shipyards to support long-term workforce stability and facility investment.
Another Collins amendment would strengthen the skilled trades pipeline at public shipyards like Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The bill also includes provisions from the Counter Act, co-sponsored by Collins, that would expand the Department of Defense’s authority to defend its facilities from illegal drone activity.
For Maine military installations, the bill authorizes $2.5 million for a new Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and Aerospace Ground Equipment Facility at the Bangor Air National Guard Base. At Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the bill authorizes $227.8 million for power reliability and water resilience upgrades, $220.8 million for the Multi-Mission Drydock #1 extension, and $1.02 million for parking consolidation design work.
The bill includes provisions that would potentially benefit Maine defense manufacturers including Howe & Howe Technologies, CompoTech, and Howell Laboratories. For Howe & Howe Technologies, the bill authorizes funding to develop autonomous amphibious robotic vehicles with the U.S. Marine Corps requirements.
It directs the Army to brief the Senate Armed Services Committee on deployable shelter requirements related to CompoTech, and authorizes funding for next-generation water purification systems aboard Navy ships related to Howell Laboratories.
Another amendment filed by Collins would require the Department of Defense to submit a report on the U.S. boot industrial base and a plan to achieve full Berry Amendment compliance for combat footwear by FY2028. Berry requires DoD to source materials such as boots domestically, and while Arkansas is a key footwear provider to the military currently, Maine could conceivably apply its traditional manufacturing experience in boots here as well.
The NDAA authorizes a 3.8 percent pay raise for all service members and includes reforms to streamline and modernize defense procurement. The bill also directs a study on behavioral and mental health staffing shortfalls at military medical treatment facilities.
