Ship repair industry leaders from all three coasts and Hawaii converged in Washington, D.C., last week to kick off the National Ship Repair Coalition’s (NSRC’s) 2002 National Ship Repair Conference at the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill. The annual conference is instrumental to both ensuring Fleet readiness and addressing the challenges that face the domestic industry. “NSRC is a leader in efforts aimed at ensuring the security of the United States while enhancing the safety and quality of life of the servicemen and women who put their lives on the line each day,” said NSRC President Christopher Long. “The upcoming conference provides a valuable opportunity to further these efforts by bringing industry leaders from around the country together with congressional and Navy officials to both identify the needs of the Fleet and the industry and come up with the best possible solutions.”
NSRC is a supporter of fully funding critical readiness accounts, such as ship depot maintenance, which have historically been underfunded. One of the primary items targeted for discussion at this conference is the over $1.3 billion current backlog for
Navy ship repairs.
NSRC members met with a number of defenseminded lawmakers, including Senator Max Cleland (D-GA), Senator John Warner (R-VA), Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA), Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA), Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), Congressman Ed Schrock (R-VA), and Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA). Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA), one of the strongest advocates of Fleet readiness on Capitol Hill, will deliver the conference’s keynote address. In addition, representatives of both the Bush Administration and the United
States Navy will deliver presentations during the conference.