Hampton Roads representatives spoke Friday before Navy League.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The FY ’24 Defense Appropriations Bill passed by Congress last week includes $33 billion for new shipbuilding. A large chunk of that is coming to Hampton Roads.
Specifically, the funding will go to Virginia and Columbia Class submarines constructed in part at Newport News Shipbuilding, and for Ford Class aircraft carriers built entirely at Newport News.
But, with the bill arriving five and half months late, that required four continuing resolutions, freezing spending at the prior year’s levels.
That was bad for the local shipyards and their suppliers.
“That means there’s no new work, there’s no new availabilities. The money is the money. That impacts what we’re trying to do,” said Ray Wittersheim, President & CEO of Tecnico Corp.
Local members of Congress, appearing Friday before the Navy League of the United States in Hampton Roads, said it’s crucial that budgets are passed on time.
“It’s critically important that we pass the budget on time. …