Rep. Courtney Applauds $12.4 Billion Contract Awarded to Boost Shipbuilder Pay, Construct Two New Virginia Class Submarines at Electric Boat
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Navy awarded a contractof over $12.4 billion to General Dynamics Electric Boat for the construction of two fiscal year 2024 Virginia class submarines (SSN 812 and SSN 813), investments to improve productivity at the shipyards, and for nuclear-powered vessel programs’ workforce support (e.g. wage improvement).
"Today’s announcement by the Navy that Congressionally funded wage improvement payments have been released is a welcomed development for our effort to hire and retain a highly-skilled shipyard workforce in southern New England. From the standpoint of the U.S. House Seapower Subcommittee, the ability of the submarine industrial base to successfully execute production of Congress’ submarine building plans depends on growing a new generation of shipbuilders. As I wrote to the Secretary of the Navy, this contract award – which passed in December 2024 and was spearheaded by the Seapower Subcommittee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee – will go a long way to achieving that goal.
“It also provides Electric Boat with the funding to build two more Virginia class submarines and builds on a record backlog of work already in the queue at the Electric Boat shipyard to respond to the contested environment across the maritime domain. I am confident that Electric Boat’s record hiring – 5,300 in 2023, 4,100 in 2024, and another 3,000 projected this year – along with record investments to strengthen the submarine supply chain, will allow Groton’s talented shipbuilders to meet the demand signal from Congress and the Navy.”
Background:
Rep. Courtney secured the authority in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act for the Secretary of the Navy to increase wages for non-executive shipyard workers. Congress passed this bipartisan measure in December 2024, and later that month, approved funding through the Continuing Resolution to allow the Navy to underwrite the cost of these wage increases for shipbuilders. Earlier this month, Rep. Courtney called on the Secretary of the Navy to quickly act upon his authority and deliver the wage increases Congress and the Navy agree are required.