SHIPBUILDERS CONCERNED OVER BUSH CUTS TO NAVY SHIPBUILDING

SHIPBUILDERS CONCERNED OVER BUSH CUTS TO NAVY SHIPBUILDING    The Bush Administration’s $3.8-billion budget cut for naval shipbuilding in the fiscal 2002 budget has drawn concern from the American Shipbuilding Association.
   The budget requests $7.8 billion, down from the $11.6 billion in last year’s budget.
   “These figures certainly do not indicate that help is on the way” to building a 360-ship fleet requiring a construction rate of 12 ships per year, said Cynthia Brown, president of the association. A 12-ship per year program would require about $14 billion
   However, the figures could be increased, because Bush stated he will refrain from making a final Department of Defense budget recommendation until a review is completed to determine U.S. military needs, Brown said. The review is expected to be finished by June.