Press Releases

Tells Navy Secretary improvements necessary for national security

At a Congressional hearing this morning Congresswoman Chellie Pingree urged Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to come up with the funding necessary to make essential improvements at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery.

"The shipyard in Kittery is an economic engine for the region," Pingree said to Mabus. "Even during tough economic times, the shipyard was able to keep hiring. And that was due in large part to the investments in efficiency that have been made over the years."

Pingree questioned Mabus during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee today.

Pingree joined other members of Maine and New Hampshire's Congressional Delegations in requesting $12 million in funding to consolidate and improve workshops at the shipyard. The funding was included in a defense bill passed by the House but the Senate failed to pass that bill. The funding was not included in the final version of the bill which eventually passed Congress late last year.

Since Congressional leaders are not including these kind of funding requests in budget bills this year, Pingree is asking the Obama Administration to find other ways to fund the projects.

"Because of the moratorium in place on these requests, and the reduction of spending in the President's budget, how do you plan to address such important efficiency needs that are directly related to ensuring our national security and readiness?" Pingree asked Mabus at the hearing.

Mabus said the Navy "will be taking a close look" at the funding needs for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Pingree accompanied Mabus when he visited the Shipyard in 2009, just one month after taking over as Secretary of the Navy. At the hearing this morning, Pingree reminded Mabus of the visit and the efficiency improvements he saw.

According to a recent report on the economic impact of the Shipyard, last year approximately 5,200 civilian workers took home nearly $400 million in pay. In addition, military payroll and goods and services accounted for another $150 million in direct spending in the local economy.