For Immediate Release:

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray and Representative Brian Baird today announced $9 million in the fiscal year 2004 Defense Conference Report for the SeaLion stealth boat being built in Vancouver for the U.S. Navy. Oregon Ironworks is slated to receive the funding to continue the development, testing and evaluation of this state-of-the-art vessel.

Murray, a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, earmarked $15 million for the project in the Senate version of the Defense Spending bill, which passed the full Senate in July. President Bush requested nothing for the SeaLion project. Since the House provided nothing in its Defense Appropriations bill for SeaLion, Murray was proud to have secured $9 million in the final conference report.

The SeaLion is a multi-mission high speed, low signature boat that will be capable of supporting a variety of missions like covert delivery and extraction of a Navy SEAL team to the beach, mine identification and deactivation, clandestine surveillance of shore side and seaborne activity, reconnaissance for planned mission, and target interdiction performed by the Navy in the course of an operation.

Sen. Murray has secured funding for the SeaLion in each of the past three years.

“I am proud to have supported the SeaLion project in Congress,” said Murray. “This venture will provide a critical asset for our military while boosting the economy of Southwest Washington,” said Murray.

“This is great news for Clark County,” said Baird. “Funding for the SeaLion project helps sustain manufacturing jobs in Southwest Washington while providing our troops with the best technology available.”