Shaheen Statement on Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Economic Impact Report
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in response to the release of the Seacoast Shipyard Association’s Annual Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Economic Impact Report for 2021:
“The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a staple in the Seacoast region and a point of pride for our state. The economic impact report released today underscores the Shipyard’s contributions to New Hampshire’s economy at both the local and state level. Its success is a credit to the caliber of its workforce,” said Shaheen. “The Shipyard not only boosts the Seacoast’s economic vitality, but it plays a significant role in support of our military readiness and overall national defense. I’ll continue to advocate for the Shipyard and its workers as the Senate works toward finalizing annual defense and government funding legislation for the upcoming fiscal year. Ensuring continued resources to complete the Multi-Mission Dry Dock project and to address urgent issues impacting working families, such as access to affordable child care, will continue to be top of mind. I’ll always go to bat for the Shipyard and the hardworking men and women who work day and night so that it can complete its missions.”
Shaheen is a fierce advocate for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and its workers. Shaheen?has historically secured?annual authorization and federal funding for the Multi-Mission Dry Dock modernization project. In the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, Shaheen again secured these investments, which included $475 million in funding for the Multi-Mission Dry Dock project. In June, with advocacy from Senator Shaheen, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which included $503 million for the construction project.
In addition to her leadership through the Senate Armed Services Committee on annual defense legislation, Shaheen also prioritizes other legislation in the Senate in support of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This includes the?Supplying Help to Infrastructure in Ports, Yards, and America’s Repair Docks (SHIPYARD) Act of 2021, which she introduced earlier this year with Senator Wicker (R-MS), and would provide $25 billion to make investments needed to optimize, improve and rebuild shipyard facilities, electrical infrastructure, environmental systems, and the equipment of public and private shipyards in the U.S. that support the U.S. Navy fleet. Shaheen and Wicker are co-chairs of the Senate Navy Caucus. Shaheen also secured more than $700 million in funding to support the U.S. submarine work force and submarine industrial base.
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