DAILY JOURNAL – OUR OPINION: Influence in Congress helps in private sector contracts
Mississippi reaped the benefit of having the right contractor in the right place at the best time last week when the Navy awarded a to Huntington Ingalls a contract that would have a value of $3.1 billion for LHA 8, an America-class amphibious assault ship.
U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., praised the Navy contract for the America-class amphibious assault ship.
The initial contract of $272.4 million awarded Thursday will support the planning, advanced engineering and procurement of long lead time material for the LHA 8. Options for the contract include contract design support for the LX(R) class warship, which would be based on the San Antonio-class LPD amphibious warship built at Ingalls.
Cochran said the contract is significant and will allow shipbuilders in Mississippi to continue providing the Navy and Marines modern ships. It also opens the door for Mississippi shipbuilders to be at the forefront of designing a new class of warships to meet national security needs, Cochran said. Cochran is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Defense.
Daily Journal
7/3/16
Magnolia Tribune
