PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) – Members of congressional delegations from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are trying to build a case to leave the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard out of the next round of military base closings.
They have written Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to say the yard, in Kittery, has important military value. The group said decision-makers need to understand the unique work done at the shipyard in refueling and overhauling nuclear submarines.
Congressmen and senators told Rumsfeld the Pentagon should consider issues such as whether a facility performs a unique function, whether its workers have critical skills, whether it’s shown an ability to change and whether it is irreplaceable. They say the yard scores high in all of those areas and should not be included in the 2005 base closings.
The letter was signed by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; Judd Gregg, R-N.H.; Olympia Snowe, R-Maine; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and John Sununu, R-N.H.; and U.S. Representatives Tom Allen, R-Maine; and Jeb Bradley, R-N.H.
AP-ES-12-04-03 1147EST
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