US Navy Secretary visits Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

KITTERY, Maine — The United States Navy Secretary was in Maine on Thursday, visiting the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Secretary John Phelan was joined by Sens. Susan Collins, Angus King and Jeanne Shaheen.

The trip was the secretary's first visit to a public shipyard since he was confirmed in his role earlier this year.

In a press briefing following the tour, Collins and Shaheen said the Navy Secretary was impressed with what he saw.

"We talked about the importance of expanding shipbuilding throughout the United States so that we're competitive," Shaheen said.

Phelan prioritizes strengthening shipbuilding and improving the process. He has been looking to make things more efficient. However, senators say the Secretary told them the lessons learned at the shipyard in Kittery will be important for other shipyards.

"I was pleased to hear that," Shaheen said. "I thought that showed how impressed he had been by the conversations he had here in the briefing."

The tour comes after Collins and Shaheen wrote a letter to the Navy, asking for shipyard employees to be exempt from the civilian hiring freeze. They said the shipyard can't afford to reduce its workforce. It also comes after several employees were laid off, and most have since been reinstated, according to a union representative.

"He took the time to meet with workers, from the yard," Collins said. "He saw the tremendous work that has been done on the infrastructure."

Both senators have said in the past that the shipyard is essential for the country's economy and defense.

"We need to build up our Navy; that is a bipartisan goal," Collins said.

According to Collins, the shipyard met its hiring goals last year. With roughly 6,800 employees, Collins says they're projecting to hire nearly 1,000 more workers in the future.