Senate Appropriations Committee approves funding for another destroyer for Bath Iron Works

Sen. Susan Collins says the Appropriations Committee has approved $1 billion toward the construction of an additional Arleigh Burke destroyer to be built at Bath Iron Works.

The Maine Republican said it's important for Bath — and the Navy — to have the extra ship, saying "fewer ships means less presence, less security at home, and less security around the world."

The full Senate and House will have to approve the funding for the warship to become a reality.

The extra ship would be welcome at Bath. The shipyard is trying to avoid heavy layoffs by bidding for a Coast Guard contract to build the next generation of offshore patrol cutters.