Counterplans General Stuff

Shipbuilding

1nc - shipbuilding

Shipbuilding is high now –

A) New legislation

Wilhelm ’13 (Steve, “Northwest shipbuilders expect a boost from Coast Guard bill”, December 24^th, http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2012/12/24/dec-23-coast-guard-bill-signing-opens.html) //Laustrada

Puget Sound-area shipyards got an early Christmas present on Dec. 23, when President Barack Obama signed into law a bill that should generate millions of dollars of work building large boats for the groundfish industry.¶ The boon to shipyards has been little noted in the bill, which is formally called the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012. The bill also saved an icebreaker and initiated a new study on oil-spill risks.¶ But for local shipyards, the bill's most important provision prohibits the pollock fleet from catching flatfish, rockfish and atka mackerel in the so-called “Amendment 80” sector. Amendment 80 created a quota process for catching bottomfish other than pollock.¶ With the pollock fleet restricted to catching pollock, owners of Amendment 80 vessels can now buy new boats and replace the aging fleet of 27 catcher processors in the non-pollock sector, said Lori Swanson, executive director of the Groundfish Forum. The group represents five companies chasing fish other than pollock.¶ Bryan Nichols, sales manager at Seattle’s Vigor Shipyard, said the ratification of the Coast Guard bill promises new work by removing the uncertainty that stalled investment in new ships. He expects to be bidding on jobs next year.¶ “They can actually build them now, which is big.” he said. “Before, when they were looking at designs, they were in anticipation of this law passing.”

New military procurements will sustain the industry

Cavas ’12 – (“10 Ships for U.S. Navy in New Budget”, http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120212/DEFREG02/302120001/10-Ships-U-S-Navy-New-Budget) //Laustrada

At least $12.8 billion in shipbuilding funds will be part of the Obama administration’s fiscal 2013 defense budget, according to a Pentagon document prepared for Feb. 13 news briefings and obtained by Defense News.¶ That’s enough for 10 new warships, and includes money to start construction on a new aircraft carrier and refuel another.¶ The request includes:¶ • Funding to begin construction of the John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second CVN 78 Ford-class aircraft carrier.¶ • Two SSN 774 Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines.¶ • Two DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA Aegis destroyers.¶ • Four Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), split evenly between both types being built.¶ • One Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV).¶ The request asks for $781 million in carrier construction money, including $608.2 million in procurement for CVN 79 and $173.5 million for research and development (R&D). The carrier will be built at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding shipyard in Newport News, Va., the only yard capable of building full-sized aircraft carriers.¶ The Navy is asking for $4.26 billion for submarine construction, of which $3.2 billion is for two ships under an existing multi-year procurement contract. Another $900 million is requested for advance procurement for one 2014 submarine and two in 2015. Another $165 million is requested for R&D. Submarine construction is split evenly between Newport News and the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Conn.¶ $3.5 billion is requested for the two destroyers, the first of nine ships in a multi-year procurement plan covering the 2013 to 2017 destroyers. Destroyer construction is split between General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and Ingalls Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls, in Pascagoula, Miss.

EXT: Shipbuilding High

Shipbuilding industry going strong

Evans ’13 (Brenda, “From Trade to National Security, Coast Guard Spending Rises”, December 31st Lexis) //Laustrada

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to extend spending levels for the Coast Guard and reauthorize the Maritime Administration.¶ Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Wa) led the passage of the Coast Guard bill in early December. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Rep. John Mica (R-FL), was signed into law by President Obama on December 20.¶ “This bill gives the Guard the resources they need to provide security and safety on our coasts,” Larsen said in a press release. “In a coastal state like Washington, a strong economy needs a safe and secure maritime environment. This bill will help the Coast Guard and maritime industry thrive.”¶ According to the bill’s fact sheet, the bill amends H.R. 2838 to authorize $8.6 billion in 2013 and $8.7 billion in 2014 for the activities of the Coast Guard.¶ The Coast Guard plans to purchase 180 Response Boat-Mediums with the allocated funds. According to the release, these boats are used for search and rescue, safety and security operations. Some of the fleet is being constructed by Kvichak Marine Industries in Larsen’s home state of Washington.¶ “This legislation will create jobs in the vital shipbuilding industry by taking steps towards improving our icebreaker fleet and finishing the program of record for the Response Boat-Medium,” Larsen said.¶ The House-Senate agreement prohibits the decommissioning of the two icebreakers that the previous House-passed bill supported.¶ “Maintaining an icebreaker fleet protects American commerce and our national security, and creates hundreds of jobs in Northwest Washington. We should not cede this important region to international competitors,” he continued.¶ Larsen says that the bill will help protect the environment as well. Title VI of this legislation reauthorizes the Marine Debris Research, Reduction and Prevention Act.¶ “More and more marine debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami continues to wash up on the shores of Pacific Coast states,” Larsen said. “It is important that we reauthorize the Marine Debris Act to ensure that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has the authority it needs to work with the states to address this serious threat.”¶ According to the fact sheet, the bill’s reauthorization of the Maritime Administration as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s arm of waterborne transportation is an important move. The Maritime Administration is charged with shipping, shipbuilding, port operations, vessel operations, national security, environment, and maintaining the health of the merchant marine. The Maritime Administration is allocated $295.8 million in 2013 for its national security duties.¶ The bill states that the Administration shall promote the U.S. maritime industry while providing environmental and technical assistance for new marine technologies.¶ According to the release, Washington shipbuilders will benefit from the reauthorization because it works to integrate waterborne transportation with the full transportation system.