Shea-Porter Visits Portsmouth Naval Shipyard with VP Biden

U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-NH, yesterday visited and toured the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) with Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Shaheen, Congressman Mike Michaud, and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree also participated in today’s event. Captain William Greene, Commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Paul O’Connor, President of the Metal Trades Council, and other shipyard management and labor leaders hosted the Vice President and the delegation members.

“I was very pleased that the Vice President had the opportunity to see the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard today. The incredible workforce is a model of excellence. The work they do is vital to our national defense and our local economy,” Shea-Porter said. “I am proud to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, where I will continue to work to protect the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and its essential defense mission.”

Shea-Porter has worked to protect New Hampshire’s economy and PNSY workersfrom the reckless budget cuts of sequestration. She cosponsored legislation that would cancel sequestration, she held meetings with Shipyard leaders, and she spoke directly with the Secretary of Defense about furloughs at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

This year, Shea-Porter also passed legislation through the House of Representatives that ensures the Department of Defense use its existing methodology to determine which workforce is the most cost-efficient for new work—rather than to rely on informal arrangements or arbitrary decisions—allowing it to reap the savings.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is one of four public shipyards in the United States. In 2010, Shea-Porter secured more than $11.9 million in funding for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to add to and reconstruct the Shipyard’s Structural Shops, which will help the Shipyard remain competitive and efficient.

Submitted on U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porters’ Office.