By Paul Edward Parker
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When U.S. House lawmakers finally ended the federal feud over the current year's budget on Thursday, it included $4.9 billion that will ensure General Dynamics Electric Boat continues building two Virginia-class submarines a year, preserving hundreds -- if not thousands -- of jobs in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Sen. Jack Reed said Friday.
The Senate had passed the funding earlier in the week.
"For this year and next year, we've really locked in the two ships a year," Reed said in an interview. "It's very necessary for the Navy because they have to replace the Los Angeles class."
The Congressional action also gives the Navy permission to take preliminary steps toward building two Virginias a year for the next five years.