Senator Ayotte Secures Endorsement from Navy on Consolidating Projects at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Press Release
Moving up timetable is expected to improve efficiency and save taxpayer dollars
In response to questioning today by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), who serves as Ranking Republican of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, Vice Admiral William Burke, agreed that the Navy should consolidate two phases of a structural workshop modernization project at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The project is currently planned for fiscal years 2015 and 2016. Senator Ayotte also reiterated her call for the Navy to move up the project's timetable in order to achieve efficiencies and cost savings sooner, and Admiral Burke said that the Navy would consider her request.
In response to Senator Ayotte's questions regarding consolidating the project's two phases, Admiral Burke said: "We'll look at the opportunity to put them together. When I've asked the question about could they be done concurrently the answer that I've gotten is yes. So it would seem to me that they ought to be done together. I would agree with you."
Senator Ayotte said, "Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's workers are leading the way among the four public shipyards in the Virginia Class submarine maintenance which is critical to our Navy's present and future readiness. When I recently visited the shipyard, it was clear to me that consolidating the two phases of this structural workshop project would improve efficiency and save taxpayer dollars. I am glad Vice Admiral Burke agrees. I am also encouraged that Admiral Burke will consider moving up the timetable for this project to achieve even greater cost savings and efficiencies sooner. I look forward to working with the Navy to advance this effort."
Senator Ayotte previously raised this issue with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in March. At her request, Admiral Roughead instructed his staff to consider advancing funding for the structural workshops consolidation project to FY 2012. Roughead testified that savings could be found by consolidating the phases of this project - rather than completing it in two separate phases.
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