Congresswoman Pingree, a Member of the Hosue Appropriations Committee, Voted Against the Budget Control Act, Which Created the Sequester Mechanism.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 1,491)

“I am deeply disappointed that the Navy decided not to repair the US Miami,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree at a press conference on the Portland waterfront earlier this week.  She was referring to the submarine that was damaged in a fire at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in May of 2012.

Pingree made it clear this decision by the Navy would not have happened had it not been for the deep budget cuts and the uncertainity caused by the sequester.  “It is shameful that this ill-conceived law has contributed to the loss of work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  I know the men and women at the yard in Kittery would have not only repaired the Miami but made it better than it was before the fire.  They deserve the chance to do that work and the Navy needed that ship.  It’s outrageous that the yard won’t get the chance to put the Mamai back in service because of sequestration,” she said.

Pingree also stated that the sequestration in this situation has not caused any loss of jobs.  In fact, there is plenty of work to be done at the Naval Yard.  “But because of Congressional gridlock, it is interfering with our Naval strategy,” she said at the press conference.

“It’s a sad day for everyone,” she said.