12th LPD in budget

The Senate voted Saturday night to approve a $1.1 trillion deal sending the legislation to President Barack Obama for his signature after an unusual weekend session and days of drama in the House. In the end, the Senate passed the $1.1 trillion spending bill, 56-40. Mississippi’s Ingalls Shipyard secured a 12th LPD 17 San Antonio-class amphibious warship - saving about 3,000 jobs. Also, some other key Gulf Coast provisions are: three Littoral Combat Ships - plus advanced funding for a fourth - and an 11th Joint High Speed Vessel for the Mobile, Ala.-based Austal USA shipyard; nearly $1 billion for partial funding of a new amphibious ship, LPD 28 expected to be built at Ingalls in Pascagoula; and 55 Lakota Light Utility Helicopters, which are made by Airbus Helicopters in Columbus, Miss. (Source: Defense News, 12/12/14). Gulf Coast states' senators voting for and against the measure: "Yes" is for passage: Landrieu, D-La.; Nelson, D-Fla.; Cochran, R-Miss.; Wicker, R-Miss. “No” votes: Sessions, R-Ala.; Shelby, R-Ala.; Vitter, R-La. ... Not voting: Feinstein, D-Calif.