Golden wins funding in defense bills to support jobs in Maine shipbuilding, manufacturing
Congressman secures funding for destroyers, requirement for military footwear to be ‘Made in USA,’ among other wins
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), successfully secured several provisions in the House’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act that would steer billions of federal dollars to support Maine manufacturing.
Major wins for Maine secured in these bills — including funding for two of the DDG-51 destroyers, ships typically built by Bath Iron Works (BIW) and a requirement that military footwear be sourced from domestic producers, such as the New Balance factory in Skowhegan — were last-minute inclusions following weeks of advocacy by Golden.
Without Golden’s amendments specifically addressing shipbuilding, the House was set to break years of precedent by not ordering new destroyers in the NDAA. Golden grilled the Secretary of the Navy about the omission during a hearing last month.
“The NDAA is one of Congress’ most powerful tools to jumpstart America’s production economy, and in today’s uncertain world, the wins included in this bill are as important as ever,” Golden said. “These amendments represent years of job opportunities for Mainers that will make the country more safe — something I’ll continue pressing my colleagues on in the months ahead.”
The NDAA was passed out of the Armed Services Committee with near unanimous bipartisan support and must now pass the full House and Senate before becoming law.
“This important investment in America’s defense recognizes the critical role Arleigh Burke-class destroyers play in safeguarding our families, our country and our national interests,” said Charles F. Krugh, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.“We appreciate Congressman Golden’s continuing leadership regarding the shipbuilding industrial base. As the budget process moves forward, this commitment offers clear support to shipbuilders as we work to get more Flight III capability to the fleet.”
“The IAM Union applauds Congressman Jared Golden for his steadfast work on behalf of workers at Bath Iron Works and across the state of Maine,” said Brian Bryant, international president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union, which represents shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works.“Now that the House Armed Services Committee has finalized their Fiscal Year 2026 defense legislation, Rep. Golden’s tireless work to ensure appropriate funding for the DDG Destroyer program will help secure Machinists Union jobs at BIW and improve National Security for all Americans”
The NDAA also includes Golden’s bipartisan Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTs) Act, which would require the military’s combat footwear to be manufactured in the U.S. with entirely domestic materials. A report commissioned by DoD Logistics Agency found that America’s current clothing and textile supply chain would be unable to meet demand in the event of a major conflict. By investing in American production, the BOOTs Act will help ensure that it can.
Currently, the DoD allows servicemembers to purchase foreign-made boots that mimic the appearance of regulation boots but fall far short in quality and durability. Beyond increasing the risk of injury to servicemembers, this practice undermines America’s domestic defense supply chain by allowing a surge of foreign footwear that lowers demand from U.S. companies, which in turn, reduces domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Golden’s bill is backed by numerous textile manufacturers and trade organizations, including New Balance, which employs more than 600 workers across Maine:
“The BOOTS Act is a major victory for all American footwear manufacturers and suppliers as well as our associates in Central Maine where Berry Amendment compliant combat boots and other military athletic footwear will be made for years to come,” said Amy Dow, Sr. Director of Public Relations & Government Affairs at New Balance. “As a Marine and a Mainer, Congressman Golden’s leadership and faith in American craftsmanship will provide our servicemembers with the best U.S.-made boots and we applaud his work to ensure the BOOTS Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act.”
The BOOTS Act is also endorsed by A&E, Belleville Boot Co., Emtex Global, G-FORM, Glacial Lakes Rubber and Plastics, Grassland Stamping, Hope Global Manufacturing, ISA TanTec, McRae Footwear, Meramec, Milliken, PolyLabs, SX Industries, Vibram Corporation, W.L. Gore and Associates, Worthen Industries, YKK USA, American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), U.S. Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA), and the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC).
The bills considered this week total more than $880 billion in spending, which also includes a 3.8% pay raise for all service members, $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, $600 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and $13 billion in shipbuilding funding.
Apex Accelerators — a program designed to counsel businesses through the process of winning government contracts — would receive $70 million in funding under the bills. More than 760 Maine businesses received assistance from Maine APEX in FY24, winning 2,291 contract awards worth more than $2.5 billion cumulatively.
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