U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, voiced support for the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act prior to the House of Representatives’ passage of the bill in a 363-70 vote Tuesday night.

In his dual role as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces and co-chair and co-founder of the Friends of Australia Caucus, Courtney authored parts of the bill intended to benefit eastern Connecticut.

As Congress prepared to vote, he outlined provisions that provide $13.4 billion for submarine procurement, research and development, and repair — the most since the 1980s. The bill supports the sustained two-per-year build rate of Virginia-class submarines in 2022 and beyond with more than $6 billion; provides more than $3 billion for the second year of construction of the first Columbia-class submarine, which Electric Boat is building; and provides $200 million to upgrade and grow submarine shipyards, including EB’s Groton facility.

The subcommittee also secured $900 million for research and development of future submarine capabilities.

Courtney’s provisions aim to enable U.S. shipyards to meet the Navy’s growing demands, increase Virginia-class submarine production to three per year by 2025, and potentially take on work orders that may result from AUKUS, the Australia-U.K.-U.S. alliance designed to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines.