RELEASE: On 241st Birthday of the Navy, Governor Maggie Hassan Greets Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Workers

Press Release

Today, marking the 241st birthday of the Navy, Governor Maggie Hassan visited with Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers as they participated in a change of shift, highlighting the vital contributions the Shipyard makes to our national defense and New Hampshire's economy.

"As we mark the 241st birthday of the Navy, it is important to recommit ourselves to ensuring that our military has the resources necessary to keep New Hampshire and America safe," said Governor Maggie Hassan. "The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard makes vital contributions to our nation's defense and our state's economy, and as a State Senator, I was proud to stand up and help turn back a misguided effort to close the Shipyard. In the United States Senate, I will always continue fighting for the Shipyard's highly skilled workers and vigorously fight any attempt to close the facility."

Throughout her time in office, Governor Hassan has long worked to support the Shipyard. As a State Senator she sponsored, and secured unanimous bipartisan passage of, legislation providing state funding for the Seacoast Shipyard Association, which played a pivotal role in saving the Shipyard from the Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC). She also worked closely with fellow state legislators to fight the misguided effort to close the Shipyard. As Governor, she's continued to fight for Shipyard priorities, speaking out against the reckless federal budget sequester that threatened the Shipyard's operations.

In the Senate, she will continue to advocate for the Shipyard's highly skilled workers and vigorously fight any attempt to close the facility -- including opposing a new BRAC round. Governor Hassan will also work to fully reverse sequestration and end the threat of uncertain budgets and furloughs. And she will support new barracks and dry dock refurbishment, ensure that the Shipyard's personnel get full per diems when they travel, fully fund the submarine fleet that the Navy says it needs, and look for new ways to diversify and expand the Shipyard's mission going forward.

Source