Washington, D.C. – In an October 8 memo to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, members of the Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire Congressional Delegation make the strong case that the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard measures up to the criteria being utilized in the 2005 round of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. 

“In key areas, including shipyard performance, mission capability, and the ability to transform to perform future missions, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard measures up positively against the criteria being utilized in the 2005 round of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission,” delegation members commented. “These points are outlined clearly in our memo to Secretary Rumsfeld and are designed to make the case - once again – that Portsmouth plays a critical role in our national defense infrastructure now, and must be allowed to do so in the future.”

Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH), John Sununu (R-NH), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Congressmen Thomas Allen (D-ME), Michael Michaud (D-ME), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Charles Bass (R-NH), and John Tierney (D-MA) sent the following letter to Rumsfeld:

        “As Members of the Joint New Hampshire-Maine-Massachusetts Delegation representing the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we would like to share with you our views on how Portsmouth Naval Shipyard compares to the Base Realignment and Closure criteria.

        “The attached paper presents key points of shipyard performance, mission capabilities, and future transformational role of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  We hope you will find it of use as the Department proceeds with the Base Closure and Realignment process.”

The materials were copied to: Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Chair Infrastructure Executive Council; Michael W. Wynne, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (Acting), Chair Infrastructure Steering Group; Gordon R. England, Secretary of the Navy; Admiral Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations; Wayne Arny, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment, Chair Infrastructure and Evaluation Group; Anne R. Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Infrastructure Strategy and Analysis.”

contact: Mark Sullivan, (207)774-5019