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 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s Economic Impact Report for 2019:

“The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and its workers play an important role in support of our national security and the economic strength of New Hampshire,” said Senator Shaheen. “This economic impact report further reinforces the necessity of strong federal support for the Shipyard and its workers. As the economic fallout from COVID-19 continues, the good paying, skilled jobs at the Shipyard serve as a vital buttress for the region’s economy. I will continue to fight tirelessly to provide funding for Shipyard projects and defend that funding from the Trump administration. Standing up for the Shipyard and its workforce will always be a top priority.”

Today, Senator Shaheen announced that a provision she supported authorizing $160 million for the Multi-Mission Dry Dock project at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was included in the annual defense bill. Senator Shaheen has fought the President’s efforts to divert funding appropriated by Congress intended to support U.S. national security priorities, including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard projects, to pay for a border wall that he promised Mexico would fund. Last week, she introduced legislation to protect funding intended for New Hampshire military facilities. She was instrumental in defending Portsmouth Naval Shipyard construction projects against the President’s previous threat to divert Shipyard funding towards the border wall. Since the President first announced his emergency declaration last year and projects at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard were initially listed as potential targets to lose funding, Senator Shaheen successfully defended the funding secured by Congress. Shaheen was also a cosponsor of the bipartisan resolutions to terminate the President’s National Emergency Declaration, which was subsequently vetoed by the President. In February, the Trump administration announced that it again intends to raid military funding to pay for the border wall, to which Senator Shaheen vowed she’ll oppose.