BRUNSWICK, ME – In advance of Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement:

“I am pleased to welcome Vice President Biden to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where he will have the opportunity to see the extraordinary and important work done day-in-and-day-out in support of our Navy’s attack submarine fleet,” Senator King said. “His visit to PNSY underscores the importance of the facility to our national defense, and I am confident that he will come away deeply impressed by both the caliber of the work accomplished and the talent and skill of the world-class workforce who get it done.”

Earlier this year, Senator King, who was unable to join the tour today due to previously scheduled events, worked alongside his colleagues, Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), to successfully secure $11.5 million in funding for military construction projects at PNSY and the procurement of two Virginia-class submarines, which will eventually be serviced at PNSY. The Senators also continue to advocate for the replacement of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge to ensure that PNSY has essential railways services to move materials in a safe and cost-efficient manner.

Additionally, as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has vigorously opposed calls by the Administration for additional base closures under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. The last BRAC process occurred in 2005 when the Pentagon's recommendation to close the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was ultimately overturned by the BRAC Commission.

Senator King is also a strong supporter of PNSY efforts to improve energy efficiency within the shipyard. In May, he toured several of the ongoing sustainability projects and commended PNSY on its outstanding and nationally-recognized environmental record. Later in the month, he also helped secure a $2.7 million authorization in the Senate Armed Service Committee’s 2015 National Defense Authorization Act to be used for energy conservation project at PNSY.

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