FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2020
Contact: Ally Livingston, alivingston@jeanneshaheen.org

Leadership from Seacoast Shipyard Association, American Federation of Government Employees Local 2024, Interior Systems Carpenters Union Local 352, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Metal Trades Council highlighted Shaheen’s efforts to save shipyard funding and jobs

Portsmouth, N.H. — Today, Jeanne Shaheen joined representatives from the Seacoast Shipyard Association, American Federation of Government Employees Local 2024, Interior Systems Carpenters Union Local 352, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Metal Trades Council, representing workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, to highlight the Senator’s longstanding commitment to the shipyard and its workers, as well as its importance to New Hampshire’s economy and to national security.

“The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard plays a critical role in our national security and fuels our economy here on the Seacoast, creating jobs and supporting local businesses. It has an unmistakable cultural impact on the region, and I will always stand with our shipyard workers to protect it,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “Throughout my time in public office we have repeatedly had to work to block efforts to take our shipyard’s funding. Just last year, the Trump administration tried to divert as much as $244 million in federal dollars from our shipyard, and I worked across the aisle to stop them. These have been tough fights, but I am ready to stand with our shipyard workers and New Hampshire families any time the federal government threatens it, and I always will.”

“The Seacoast Shipyard Association will work to block anyone who jeopardizes our shipyard, and we know that Jeanne Shaheen will always stand with us,” said John Joyal, Seacoast Shipyard Association Chair. “As one of the top members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen has been a reliable advocate for us in Congress. We know she will always answer our call and get to work to make a difference for the shipyard and our community. During her time in the Senate, Shaheen has consistently helped protect the shipyard, and she has also fought for federal support for our workers and local infrastructure. The shipyard is doing really well, thanks in large part to Shaheen. She’s a critical ally for us, and we will work to ensure that she is re-elected to the Senate.”

“Throughout her career, Senator Shaheen has been a powerful advocate for the shipyard and she understands how important the shipyard is to our workers, the community and our national defense,” said John Leavitt, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Regional Manager. “When the base was threatened by the potential of another round of base realignment and closure (BRAC), it was Senator Shaheen who used her position on the Armed Services Committee to work across the aisle with Republican Senators to stop it and protect the base and its workers. More recently, when President Trump attempted to divert funding for the base to fund a border wall, it was Senator Shaheen who once again stood up to make sure that the base and its workers were not impacted. We look forward to working to help ensure that she is re-elected and can continue to champion our members and all workers.”

“The shipyard is such an important part of New Hampshire’s seacoast, providing jobs and boosting our local economy, and Jeanne Shaheen really gets that,” said Bill Webber, American Federation of Government Employees Local 2024 President. “Back in January 2017, when the administration instituted a hiring freeze for all federal employees, Jeanne Shaheen took on the Defense Department and made sure that the shipyard was exempted from that freeze. She has delivered hundreds of millions to our shipyard to help us repair our dry docks, create a Super Flood Basin to address shallow water levels at the shipyard, and to authorize new Virginia-class submarines to be maintained and repaired at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.”

“Senator Shaheen has been involved in almost every major project and improvement we have taken on at the shipyard ever since she was elected to the Senate,” said Brandon Clithero, Sheet Metal International Local 546 President. “And right now, during a pandemic that has changed so much of our state and our world, she has led bipartisan efforts to call for flexibility for shipyard workers, working to ensure that anyone who needs to take care of themselves or a vulnerable family member is able to do so. I’m grateful to stand with her today, just as she has stood with us for her entire career. And I will be sure to work hard on her behalf ahead of this election.”

In the Senate, Shaheen has worked across the aisle to support the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, protecting jobs, delivering pay raises, and securing funding for new projects. Last year, when the Trump administration tried to divert as much as $244 million from construction projects at PSNY to pay for a border wall, she led bipartisan efforts to block them, and ultimately saved the shipyard’s funding. She has secured millions of dollars to address shallow water levels and has secured further investment and work for the shipyard by helping authorize the procurement of additional Virginia-class submarines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shaheen has advocated for shipyard workers, taking on the Department of Defense regarding policy that made it difficult for workers to stay home.

Social-distancing and masks were required at Shaheen’s event to ensure the health and safety of attendees and the media.

For more information, please visit www.JeanneShaheen.org. For photos of the event and the audio recording, email press@jeanneshaheen.org.

###