In 2005, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was on the closure list. Senator Susan Collins worked alongside shipyard employees and members of the Maine and New Hampshire congressional delegations to make the case for keeping the Kittery yard open.

More than two decades later, the shipyard remains vital to both our national defense and our local economy. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins has continued to advocate for investments in the yard, including $475 million in 2022 and $503 million in 2023 for the modernization of Dry Dock #1. That project is critical to ensuring Portsmouth can continue maintaining the Navy’s submarines. She also secured funding to plan a new child care center and provisions strengthening the shipyard’s apprenticeship program.

The impact of the shipyard extends well beyond its gates. As this newspaper reported, thousands of York County residents earn their living there, supporting families and communities throughout the region. Sanford and Springvale alone are home to hundreds of shipyard employees.

Ultimately, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard runs on the skill and dedication of the people who work there. Those workers need elected officials who understand the yard’s importance and work to secure the facilities, training and support necessary to accomplish its mission.

For more than two decades, Susan Collins has been part of that effort, and her work on behalf of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and its employees deserves recognition.

Kelli Genest

Sanford, Maine

Read the Letter: Seacoastonline.com