CONCORD – Governor John Lynch today released the following statement regarding U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's announcement that he will ask Congress to authorize military base closures through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. In 2005, the BRAC commission targeted the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for closure. Governor Lynch joined the state's congressional delegation, officials in Maine, workers at the Shipyard and the communities of Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine, in fighting to keep the shipyard open:

"As we face the another possible round of base closures, which could target our Shipyard, I am ready to once again join our state's congressional delegation and our counterparts in Maine in ensuring the Shipyard remains open.

"We showed the nation in 2005 that the Portsmouth Navel Shipyard is the gold standard - and it has been for over 200 years - consistently delivering projects under budget and ahead of schedule. It was the hard work and exemplary service of the men and women of our Shipyard that convinced the BRAC Commission that the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard should remain open. That record of results at the Shipyard continues today.

"I know that if pressed into action once again, the thousands of men and women of the Shipyard are ready to show the nation that the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is integral to our nation's defense.

"We continue to stand united, and ready to prove that no one in the nation does it better."