Senate, House differ on ship buys

WASHINGTON – A Senate panel’s version of the defense spending bill for the upcoming fiscal year differs from the House version in number and mix of Navy ships. The Senate panel wants two littoral combat ships, a version of which is built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. The House wants four. The Senate panel also wants two DDG-51 destroyers built by Northrop Grumman in Pascagoula, Miss. That’s one more than in the House wants. The Senate panel also provides money for Northrop Grumman to start construction on another amphibious assault ship. The bill still has to go to the full Senate. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 09/12/09)