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| New Hampshire’s U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D) and Kelly Ayotte (R) at ceremony honoring first responders at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (courtesy photo) |
KITTERY -
New Hampshire’s U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) were in Portsmouth Monday, July 16, to honor the emergency
first responders responsible for containing the fire aboard the USS Miami this
past May. Shaheen and Ayotte presented a Senate Resolution recognizing the
responders, which they introduced along with U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe
(R-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Scott Brown (R-MA), Susan Collins (R-ME),
John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT). The June 7 resolution commends the
service of all those who responded to the fire, minimized damage to the
submarine and ensured there was no loss of life.
Shaheen and Ayotte presented the Senate resolution they and
other New England senators sponsored to commend the first responders at a
ceremony at Prescott Park in Portsmouth.
Last week, the Navy convened a special panel to investigate
the May 23 fire that damaged the USS Miami while it was in dry dock for an
overhaul at the shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The investigation was ordered by
U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. Early estimates put the fire
damage at $400 million. It damaged the torpedo room, crew quarters, and command
and control areas.
“Your swift response and commitment to containing the fire
helped minimize damage to the submarine and more importantly, ensured that no
one lost a life that day,” Senator Shaheen said. “The men and women who work at
the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard have an incredible track record of working
together and getting the job done. To everyone who worked together to respond
to May’s fire: thank you for your professionalism, your quick response, and
your continued commitment to serving and protecting our country. The courage
and cooperation we saw in May stands as inspiration for all of us.”
Maine U.S. Senator Susan Collins said “When the alarm rings,
as it did on May 23rd at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we see just how brave our
first responders are. They never hesitate to put themselves in harm’s
way. They risk their lives to save others.” Collins, a member of the
Senate Armed Services Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
added in a prepared statement “I am hopeful the USS Miami can be repaired in
Kittery because the shipyard workers are the best at what they do. The
sooner this submarine returns to the fleet, the sooner it will be available to
complete missions essential to our national security throughout the world.”
