Pingree says visit highlights yard’s efficiency and quality

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joined Defense Secretary Robert Gates on a tour of Bath Iron Works today.  Pingree, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Gates was able to see, first-hand, why "Bath Built is Best Built."

“Bath Iron Works has a world-class reputation and it’s because of the men and women who work there,” Pingree said.  “I’m glad Secretary Gates got to meet them.” 

“Secretary Gates has already made a point that he is intent on cutting out inefficient and underperforming weapons systems.   It’s the high quality, efficient, strategically important facilities like BIW that are going to rise to the top.”

Recently Gates announced support for building three DDG1000s at BIW.  Pingree said his visit today will reinforce that decision.  “After seeing how efficient Bath is and the top quality work that is going on here, it’s would be hard for the Secretary to back down on his commitment to have the DDG1000s built here,” Pingree said.

Pingree said this was the first shipyard Gates has visited since becoming Defense Secretary.  “I’d say we set the bar pretty high.”

Pingree also used the opportunity to talk to Gates about ongoing efforts to keep a commissary open in the Bath Brunswick area after the closing of the Brunswick Naval Air Station.

“I talked to Secretary Gates and two of his key staff people about the commissary.  Clearly they’ve been hearing what we’ve been saying and after our conversations today I’d say we feel much more optimistic about the prospects for keeping a commissary open.” 

“I was pleased that Under Secretary Carter also got to see BIW,” Pingree said.  “He’s going to be a key player in deciding which ships are being built and I look forward to him coming before my Committee.”

President Obama recently appointed Ashton “Ash” Carter as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.   This position makes Carter a key decision maker in the Department of Defense when it comes to weapon systems including ships.   Pingree sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the Sea Power and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee.