The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act has been amended to help ensure work remains steady in the region’s largest employer, Bath Iron Works.

The amendment will ensure BIW can remain in contract negotiations and on track to construct a second Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the 2016 fiscal year, and another vessel in the next fiscal year.

In a statement, Reps. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, and Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said a provision had been added in committee that threatened this shipyard workload. The Poliquin Amendment ensures that an additional Arleigh Burke destroyer that was authorized in the previous defense act stays on track for construction at BIW.

The amendment blocks a provision that would have established new requirements for the already-authorized ships, which could have obstructed or at least delayed the potential contracts, according to a press release from Maine’s two representatives.

“Bath Iron Works, employing thousands of hardworking Mainers, plays an essential role in ensuring our Nation’s defense and strength,” said Poliquin in the statement. “It is critical we support these shipbuilders, who provide for our safety at home and abroad. America’s might around the world depends on these Maine workers at BIW, and I am proud to make sure they can continue their mission.”

“Congress shouldn’t be inserting itself into complex contract negotiations like this, especially once they’re underway — doing so unnecessarily threatens the job security of hundreds of hard-working Mainers at Bath Iron Works,” said Pingree. “I’m proud to support this amendment to block these retroactive changes and protect the flow of work at BIW, whose level of shipbuilding is an incredible asset to our national security and our state’s economy.”

BIW describes the Arleigh Burke-class as the “backbone of the Navy, guarding carrier task forces and carrying out a multiplicity of other duties worldwide.” In the fiscal year 2016 defense act, three such ships were authorized. One of those ships is already under contract to BIW, while the additional ship due BIW remains in contract negotiations with the Navy.

The 2017 defense act authorized two Arleigh Burkes — one of which is in contract negotiations with the Navy. However, a provision was added to the House 2018 defense act that would have retroactively imposed new statutory requirements — including a new radar system — on ships authorized and appropriated in prior fiscal years, according to the statement.

This provision would have interjected Congress into sensitive, ongoing shipbuilding contract negotiations, according to Poliquin’s office. Historically, Congress has sought to avoid affecting ongoing contract negotiations.

Poliquin said the provision would have established “a troublesome precedent for future acquisition programs and contract negotiations.”

Then Amendment excludes the authorized FY16 Arleigh Burkes ships from provisions that would have imposed retroactive requirements and would make it clear that Congress intends that the Navy should bear the contractual burden for the majority of risk on FY17 Arleigh Burkes ship construction slated to incorporate the major Air and Missile Defense Radar change.

BIW issued the following statement: Bath Iron Works is grateful for the work of Rep. Poliquin and Rep. Chellie Pingree for advancing legislative language that maintains strong support for the U.S. Navy and for the thousands of men and women in Maine who build Navy ships. By working together and with their Republican and Democratic House colleagues, Congressman Poliquin and Congresswoman Pingree have helped protect funding for construction of Arleigh Burke destroyers in Bath in the House version of the 2018 Defense Authorization bill.

“The representatives’ advocacy balances the goal of bringing upgrades to our Navy fleet as soon as possible with the need to have a sufficiently complete design.”