WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: At a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, rejected proposed shipbuilding cuts in the Navy's budget request and called on Navy leaders to support increases in shipbuilding to grow the fleet to 355 ships, a goal that was set by Congress, the President, and the Navy. She also raised the importance of continuing to invest in   more