U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., on Monday gave his support to a 1,600-page bill that would fund the government through Sept. 30. Cochran’s office said in a press release that the legislation is a package of 11 regular appropriations bills for the rest of fiscal year, as well as additional funding sought by the Trump administration for national defense and border security. If the bill isn’t passed by Friday, the government essentially will be out of money and nonessential services would begin shutting down. According to Cochran’s office, the highlights for Mississippi include $21.1 billion for Navy shipbuilding programs to build 10 new ships, $114 million for five MQ-8 Fire Scout aircraft and $444 million for three MQ-4 Triton aircraft, both built in part in Moss Point. (Source: Sun Herald, 05/01/17)