July 12, 1978
Page 20351
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I congratulate the Subcommittee on Military Construction for their effort represented in the military construction bill for fiscal year 1979. I am pleased that the committee has authorized continued modernization efforts at the Kittery Naval Shipyard at the level of $14.55 million.
This modernization effort will assure that the combat readiness of our submarine fleet will be supported by the Kittery Shipyard. The modernization program will enable the naval yard at Kittery to overhaul and repair the larger Los Angeles-class submarines which will be joining our fleet in the early 1980's. Authorizing this work now will assure that work at the yard proceeds in an orderly manner toward accommodating the future needs of our fleet.
I join with my colleague from New Hampshire (Mr. MCINTYRE) in urging the Senate conferees to give favorable consideration to an additional provision in the House bill which adds $1.6 million for waterfront support facilities at Kittery. This work is now scheduled for fiscal year 1980 but authorizing the construction at this time would expedite the yard's efforts to accommodate the Los Angeles-class submarines.
In addition to the funds for the Kittery Naval Shipyard, Mr. President, the bill contains $18.359 million for construction at five other military facilities in Maine.
About $16.490 million is authorized for work at Brunswick Naval Air Station including $7,800,000 for a maintenance hangar and $2,860,000 for an avionics shop needed for engine airframe and avionics maintenance of 54 P–3 antisubmarine warfare aircraft; $540,000 is provided for pollution abatement for the naval security group in Winter Harbor. Construction of 20 housing units at the naval communications unit in Cutler, Maine, is authorized. Other construction projects at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, the Air National Guard facilities at the International Airport in Bangor, and the Army National Guard facilities at Brunswick Naval Air Station are authorized in amounts totaling $624,000.