NEW HAMPSHIRE, MAINE SENATORS SECURE $9.1 MILLION FOR PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD

(Washington, D.C.) -The U.S. Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations spending bill which includes more than $9 million for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  This funding, which was supported by Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), and Susan Collins (R-ME), includes $7.1 million to be used for security improvements at Gate 2.

These improvements will include new, anti-terrorism and force protection measures at the guard house which will enhance security for the facility and its personnel.   In addition to the improvements at Gate 2, the bill also budgets an additional $2 million for the planning and design for consolidation and modernization of structural shops at PNSY.

"This funding is critical to maintain the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and ensure that it can carry out its work safely and effectively.  This funding will also help improve the lives of nearly 4,000 journeymen, engineers and support personnel who work at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In addition, it will provide a boost to our local economy by creating jobs and improving our defense infrastructure," said Senators Gregg, Shaheen, Snowe, and Collins in a joint statement.