March 1, 2024
HII’s Weekly News Digest is compiled every Friday by the Corporate Communications team to summarize and highlight news stories of significance to the company.
Congressional Leaders Pass Short-Term Budget Agreement: Politico reported on Thursday that both the House and Senate have approved a stopgap funding bill for President Joe Biden’s signature, thwarting a partial government shutdown on Saturday and buying more time to finalize half a dozen spending bills that congressional leaders aim to pass next week. Congress now has until March 8 to clear that initial six-bill bundle, which leaders struck a deal on earlier this week. But they’re still working on an agreement to fund the rest of the government, including the military and some of the biggest domestic programs, before a second deadline on March 22. Defense News reported on Thursday that the lack of a full fiscal year 2024 budget has raised concerns in the Pentagon that Congress may put the department on a one-year continuing resolution with a 1% sequester. Last year’s debt ceiling deal caps 2024 defense spending at $886 billion. If Congress does not pass a full fiscal year 2024 federal budget by April 30, the debt ceiling agreement puts government funding on a one-year continuing resolution that would cut spending at the Pentagon and all other federal agencies by 1%.
NNS Reaches Virginia-Class Submarine Milestones: Marine Link reported on Thursday that HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division successfully completed initial sea trials for Virginia-class attack submarine New Jersey (SSN 796). New Jersey spent several days at sea to test the boat’s systems and components. The news comes just a few days after 13NewsNow reported on Friday, Feb. 23, that NNS has launched Virginia-class submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798) into the James River. Massachusetts was first transferred from a construction facility to the floating dry dock. It was then submerged and moved by tugboats to a pier for final outfitting, testing and crew certification.
HII Awarded Nearly $1.2 Billion Boise (SSN 764) Overhaul Contract: USNI News reported on Friday, Feb. 23, that HII has been awarded a $1.17 billion contract modification to start the overhaul of Los Angeles-class attack boat USS Boise (SSN 764) at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. NNS has previously won a contract to gauge the scope of work needed for the overhaul. The Navy has turned to NNS to complete the overhaul to help relieve the service’s backlog of maintenance and repair work in recent years. HII delivered its first repaired boat, USS Helena (SSN 725), in January of 2022. The second boat, USS Columbus (SSN 762), is set to complete its maintenance period in 2025. Defense News reported on Feb. 23 that NNS will begin the work on Boise “immediately.” NNS has already done early production work for the Boise overhaul since the submarine arrived at the yard in 2020. The Boise overhaul is scheduled to be completed by September 2029.
Australia Plans To Double Surface Fleet Size: Defense News reported on Wednesday that a new independent review of Australia’s surface combat ships is calling for the country to expand its navy to World War II era levels. The government’s “Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet” review advocates for a flotilla of 26 warships, more than double the 11 hulls the service currently possesses. The government has accepted the recommendations except for one regarding the continuation of an upgrade for aging Anzac-class frigates. To supplement its forthcoming nuclear-powered submarines, to be acquired under the AUKUS agreement, the future surface combatant fleet will feature nine so-called Tier 1 destroyers and frigates, 11 smaller tier 2 frigates, and six optionally manned vessels. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said the entire plan is “fully funded” thanks to an additional AU$11.1 billion (U.S. $7.3 billion) allocated over the next decade, including AU$1.7 billion (U.S. $1.1 billion) in the next four years.
| Social Media Highlight Of The Week
Posted Friday on HII’s LinkedIn page: “March is #WomensHistoryMonth, a time to highlight the contributions women from the past and present have made on our society to create a future for freedom and equal opportunity. HII is honored to celebrate their dedication to making our company, industry, and nation as a whole a more equitable and accepting space for everyone. The theme for 2024 is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” Learn more by visiting the National Women’s History Alliance and HII.com.” |
Electric Boat Pushes Hiring Goals For Next Decade: Hartford Courant reported on Sunday that General Dynamics Electric Boat continues to hire at a record pace – 5,300 new employees in the last year – and it plans to keep up that pace for the coming decade. EB President Kevin Graney said the challenge is ramping up to peak production from decades of flat, post-Cold War spending that shrunk the U.S. fleet by half. That includes hiring new shipbuilders and urging suppliers to ramp up production to meet growing demands. To help attract workers, regional civic leaders are exploring housing options, looking at transportation options to get them to work and trying to find ways to provide daycare for their children.
HII’s Weekly News Digest is produced by HII’s Corporate Communications team and posted to Homeport every Friday.
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