Susan Collins actually said...

"It is vitally important. Beginning of 2024 scheduled Virginia Class maintenance availabilities at the shipyard will exceed its capacity."

"But just to clarify. You stand by the statement that is in the budget materials, that the additional money would eliminate the 20 deferred maintenances?"

"a billion dollars is a lot of money year after year after year, though it doesn't seem so in this environment anymore, but it used to be a lot of money, and to have push for this money year after year..."

"Senator Jack Reed and I authored this legislation and we were successful in getting it included in the December package."