Christopher Long News

The National Ship Repair Coalition launched its new campaign, “What Have You Done For The Fleet Today?” to underscore its support for Fleet Readiness, National Security, and the men and women of the U.S. Navy. “We’re proud of the Navy, and the role we play in supporting our fleets and the sailors,” said Christopher Long, president of the Coalition. The National Ship Repair Coalition will kick off the campaign with events in San Diego, Calif. and Norfolk, Va. over the next several weeks. The National Ship Repair Coalition is dedicated to improving fleet readiness and national security, enhancing the safety and quality of life of US sailors, and building and maintaining a strong and vibrant private sector ship repair industry.

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. NSRC is a supporter of fully funding critical readiness accounts, such as ship depot maintenance, which have historically been underfunded.

The House Appropriations Committee moved forward with the Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 supplemental defense appropriations bill yesterday afternoon, reporting a $29.7 billion package out of committee by voice vote and sending it to the House floor for a possible vote next week. Although the committee worked its way through controversial amendments to produce a bill that would be acceptable to the president, conservatives in the House remain upset that that the supplemental appropriates more funding than President Bush's initial request of $27.1 billion. GOP Budget hawks plan to press leadership on this issue as the rule for floor consideration is developed.

The National Ship Repair Coalition (NSRC) launched its third multi-media presentation to support the “What Have You Done for the Fleet Today?” campaign. The latest installment of this campaign can be viewed online at http://www.nationalshiprepair.com by clicking on the “What Have You Done for the Fleet Today?” banner. This month’s presentation features the work of Annette Sison and Louise Cutler, both of whom work at U.S. Marine Repair Shipyards. Sison originally joined Southwest Marine as a laborer and is proud to be an integral part of the company, which is an industry leader in ship repair, maintenance, and conversion. Cutler joined the Navy support team at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation (NORSHIPCO) in September 1977…