New Hampshire Congressional Delegation: Hands off Naval Shipyard funding

Written by Nick Blenkey
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New Hampshire’s Congressional Delegation is worried that the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) could be adversely affected by President Trump’s decision to reallocate military construction funds to fund a border wall.

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (D-NH-02) and Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) have writtem urging the Trump administration to reconsider its plans to reallocate funding, saying the action could have an “adverse impact on the ability of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) and the New Hampshire National Guard (NHNG) to meet critical national security requirements.”

In their letter, the Delegation underscored important New Hampshire projects at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard that could be affected by the President’s actions. They wrote, “As you are aware, in February 2018, the Navy released the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan to address deficiencies across our public naval shipyards. The plan calls for a $21 billion investment over the next 20 years for dry dock recapitalization, facility layout and optimization and capital equipment modernization. These improvements are necessary to ensure our carriers and submarines can support national security missions around the world as the Navy is increasing the size of its fleet to 355. Congress has already approved funding for these projects… Given the already high demand of submarine maintenance and the projected submarine shortfall, we cannot undermine national security by diverting these funds.”

The Delegation also emphasized the importance of other national defense priorities supported by the New Hampshire National Guard, including a new Readiness Center in Pembroke, which could be at risk if the President pulls this funding to spend on the border wall.

Senator Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, fought to secure the funding for these PSNY and NHNG priorities in spending legislation that was signed into law in September.

Following is the text of the letter:

President Donald J. Trump

The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

February 19,2019

We write to express concern and opposition to your unilateral decision to reprogram congressionally approved funding dedicated for critical military construction projects in order to fund a costly and ineffective border wall. It is imperative that we ensure our men and women in uniform have the facilities and resources necessary to protect our nation. Raiding the Department of Defense’s military construction accounts will have a devastating impact on our national security and will disrupt carefully laid out plans to upgrade our nation ‘s military infrastructure. Such action could have an adverse impact on the ability of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) and the New Hampshire National Guard (NHNG) to meet critical national security requirements.

As you are aware, in February 2018, the Navy released the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan to address deficiencies across our public naval shipyards. The plan calls for a $21 billion investment over the next 20 years for dry dock recapitalization, facility layout and optimization and capital equipment modernization. These improvements are necessary to ensure our carriers and submarines can support national security missions around the world as the Navy is increasing the size of its fleet to 355. Congress has already approved funding for these projects including a Paint, Blast & Rubber Facility Consolidation, Consolidated Warehouse Replacement, Dry Dock # 1 Superflood Basin and Extend Portal Crane Rail. Given the already high demand of submarine maintenance and the projected submarine shortfall, we cannot undermine national security by diverting these funds.

Additionally, there are NHNG projects that have been approved by Congress in recent years including a new Readiness Center in Pembroke, New Hampshire. It is imperative that we modernize the aging National Guard infrastructure in New Hampshire and across the country so that members of the National Guard can adequately train for natural disasters and national security missions.

We urge you to consider the impact of this decision on PNSY, NHNG and national security as it will have a long-lasting adverse effect on our defense capabilities. In announcing your intention to move funds from military construction to fulfill your campaign promise to build a wall you said that the planned military construction projects “didn’t sound too important”. We can assure you that the men and women who rely on these projects to defend this nation would disagree.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Shaheen United States Senator

Margaret Wood Hassan United States Senator

Ann McLane Kuster Member of Congress

Chris Pappas Member of Congress

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