[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 35 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              IN SUPPORT OF THE PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I recently learned that the New 
Hampshire State Senate and House of Representatives adopted a joint 
resolution in support of keeping the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New 
Hampshire open at its full operating capacity. As we approach the 
release date of the Department of Defense's base closure list for the 
1995 round, I would like to take this time to associate myself with the 
strong support expressed in the resolution passed by my State's 
legislature and signed by Gov. Stephen Merrill. Furthermore, I ask that 
the full text of that resolution be printed in the Record.
  The State resolution follows:
           Senate Joint Resolution 1--State of New Hampshire

       Whereas, the Department of the Navy has maintained the 
     Portsmouth Naval Shipyard since June 12, 1800; and
       Whereas, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has performed in an 
     exemplary manner throughout its almost 2 centuries of 
     history; and
       Whereas, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is one of the most 
     modern facilities available in the United States for the 
     repair, overhauling, and refueling of naval vessels; and
       Whereas, the communities located near the Portsmouth Naval 
     Shipyard, in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts offer an 
     abundance of highly trained, skilled and experienced workers 
     who have an outstanding work ethic; and
       Whereas, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is uniquely and 
     strategically located for the continued defense of our 
     country; and
       Whereas, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is known for its 
     leadership in the environmental field and has worked hard to 
     be a partner with the surrounding communities; and
       Whereas, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has an aggressive 
     pollution prevention program which determines how to 
     eliminate pollution at its source by preventing hazardous 
     waste from entering the waste system; and
       Whereas, the previous closure of Pease Air Force Base has 
     had an extremely negative economic impact on the seacoast 
     region with recovery from that loss taking much longer than 
     anticipated; and
       Whereas, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard contributes 
     approximately $594,700,000 in personal income and this loss 
     would contribute to the further contraction of the economic 
     base of the region; and
       Whereas, the closure of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard would 
     have a devastating impact on an area much larger than the 
     seacoast with that impact being much greater than that caused 
     by the closure of Pease Air Force Base; and
       Whereas, the state of New Hampshire is firmly committed to 
     actively supporting the continuation of the United States 
     Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth; now, therefore, be it Resolved 
     by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court 
     convened;
       That the general court of New Hampshire respectfully 
     recommends and urges the Congress of the United States to 
     continue to operate, develop, diversify, and make fullest use 
     of the United States Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth, New 
     Hampshire;
       That the general court further urges the Congress of the 
     United States to take all necessary action to ensure that the 
     Portsmouth Naval Shipyard remains an integral component in a 
     post-cold war defense strategy; and
       That copies of this resolution signed by the governor, the 
     president of the Senate and the Speaker of the House be 
     forwarded by the Senate clerk to the President of the United 
     States, Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, President of the United States Senate, the 
     Secretary of Defense, and to each member of the New Hampshire 
     and Maine Congressional delegations.
     

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