Legislation to Strengthen National Defense Passes Senate with Provisions Championed by Senator Collins

Bill authorizes new military construction in Maine, supports Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and includes several provisions authored or championed by Senator Collins.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes $878 billion in total defense spending, passed the Senate by a vote of 77 to 20. The bill now heads to a conference committee to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill.

"Passage of the NDAA is key for setting the policy for our nation's military priorities," said Senator Collins. "This legislation would help to address the national security threats facing the United States, strengthen Maine's shipbuilders and defense manufacturers, and ensure that the brave men and women in uniform have the support they need to defend our nation."

Several provisions and amendments authored or co-authored by Senator Collins were included in the final bill that passed the Senate today:

• Berry Amendment-Compliant Footwear Report. Amendment filed by Senator 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.

• Public Shipyard Apprentice Program. Amendment filed by Senator Collins would strengthen the skilled trades pipeline at public shipyards like Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

• Counter Act. Co-sponsored by Senator Collins, provisions from this bill would expand the Department of Defense's authority to defend its facilities from illegal drone activity.

The NDAA also includes several provisions Senator Collins strongly advocated for that would benefit Maine:

• Support for U.S. Troops. Authorizes a 3.8 percent pay raise for all service members-including the thousands of Maine men and women serving in uniform-and includes reforms to streamline and modernize defense procurement to ensure our military is better equipped and supplied. The bill also directs a study on behavioral and mental health staffing shortfalls at military medical treatment facilities to improve access to care for servicemembers and their families.

• Support for Maine Military Installations.
• • Authorizes $2.5 million for a new Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and Aerospace Ground Equipment Facility at the Bangor Air National Guard Base (101st ARW).
  • 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
    • $1.02 million for parking consolidation design work

• Support for Shipbuilding and Bath Iron Works. 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 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.

• Support for Maine Defense Manufacturers. Includes provisions that would potentially benefit:
• • Howe & Howe Technologies - Authorizes funding to develop autonomous amphibious robotic vehicles with the USMC.
  • CompoTech - Directs the Army to brief the Senate Armed Services Committee on deployable shelter requirements.
  • Howell Laboratories - Authorizes funding for next-generation water purification systems aboard Navy ships.

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