Shaheen Statement on 2022 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Economic Impact Report
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the release of the Seacoast Shipyard Association’s Annual Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Economic Impact Report for 2022:
“For over 200 years the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has been a cornerstone of New Hampshire’s Seacoast. The report released today underscores the impact that the Shipyard has on our country’s military readiness and the Seacoast’s economic growth,” said Shaheen. “The Shipyard’s employees are the gold standard for submarine maintenance; continually finding ways to improve processes and delivering their projects on time. The investments we have secured to modernize the Shipyard are paying dividends, and I’ll continue to advocate for more support for the Shipyard and its workers as the Senate finishes its work on the annual defense and government funding legislation.”
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 July, with advocacy from Senator Shaheen, the Senate passed the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included $544.8 million for the Multi-Mission Dry Dock project. In the Committee-approved FY2024 NDAA, Shaheen worked to authorize the procurement of two new Virginia-class submarines—which are repaired and maintained at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard—as well as the authorization of $3.2 billion in advanced procurement for future submarines.
In addition to her leadership through the Senate Armed Services Committee, 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 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.
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