Michaud Applauds Passage of Help for Brunswick Commissary and Exchange and Funding for BIW in Pentagon Policy Bill
Press Release
Today, Congressman Mike Michaud applauded House passage of an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R.5136) that he cosponsored with Congresswoman Pingree that will require the Department of Defense to keep Brunswick's Commissary and Exchange open through September 30, 2011.
"There will be thousands of active duty personnel and retirees who will need access to these facilities," said Michaud. "Our congressional delegation is united in our work to protect their continued access to the commissary and exchange. Passage of this amendment today represents a significant step forward."
Michaud also supported passage of an amendment that repeals the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy contingent upon a Defense Department study and certification by the President that military readiness and unit cohesion will not be adversely affected.
"Shortages in military personnel and the repeated activation of National Guard units have put a serious strain on our military and so many families. I believe that any American who wants to serve their country should be provided an equal opportunity to do so," said Michaud.
The bill also authorizes $16 billion for major navy vessels, including funding important for Bath Iron Works, including: $3 billion for two DDG-51 destroyers; and $549 million for research and development of the DDG-1000. The final bill also contains authorization of funding for specific projects in Maine that Michaud supported, including:
* $5 million for the University of Maine in Orono, ME, for The Cellulose Nanocomposites for Army Infrastructure and Troop Protection;
* $1.32 million for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, ME, for the Maine Natural Biopolymer Research and Development Partnership;
* $3 million for the University of Maine in Orono, ME, for Woody Biomass Conversion to Jet Fuel.
Although Michaud supported all of these provisions, he voted against final passage of the bill because it contained $159.3 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it contained no firm timelines for withdrawal.
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