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.
“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.
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