The announcement by Colonna’s Shipyard in Norfolk that it will spend more than $79 million on a fourth dry dock should give a needed boost to efforts to strengthen and modernize the struggling American shipbuilding industry.

The news comes after increasing pressure in Washington this year to do something about the disturbingly slow pace of building and repairing ships, particularly Navy warships. Members of Congress representing the commonwealth have called for more “transparency” in the Navy’s approach to building ships. President Donald Trump has made beefing up domestic shipbuilding a priority .

Although there is a great deal wrong with the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill that Republicans pushed through Congress during the summer, it does provide billions of dollars for the flag

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