Friday, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, a member of the House Armed Services Committee who served for more than a decade in the United States Navy Reserve, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), co-chair of the Public Shipyard Caucus, and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA) introduced the Pay Our Public Shipyard Workers Act. This bipartisan legislation will ensure the workforce of our nation’s public shipyards is paid during government shutdowns. Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Congresswoman Emily Randall (D-WA), members who represent public shipyard workers, are cosponsors of this legislation.
“My dad –– like so many of my neighbors and constituents –– spent his career at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard-Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS-IMF), so I grew up seeing firsthand the dedication our shipyard workers bring to work every single day to support our Navy and defend our country,” said Rep. Randall. “They shouldn’t have to worry about whether they can pay their bills because of political dysfunction in DC. This legislation is about respecting the people who keep our nation secure — and it’s a commonsense solution that ensures shipyard workers and their families have the stability they’ve earned and deserve.”
“The women and men of America’s public shipyards are mission-critical for our national security. These hardworking patriots have some of the toughest and most important jobs. They should never go a day without a paycheck they have earned,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “That’s why we are working to make our bipartisan bill that ensures our public shipyard workforce gets paid the law of the land.”
“The men and women of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and all our public shipyards are critical to our national defense. They work every day with skill and patriotism to support our military, and their ability to make ends meet shouldn’t hang in the balance due to political dysfunction in Washington,” said Congressman Pappas. “We’re introducing this bipartisan legislation to ensure shipyard workers are always paid on time for their work during a government shutdown.”
“As the Representative for Virginia’s Second District, I know firsthand how essential our public shipyard workers are to the strength of our Navy and the security of our nation. These men and women are the backbone of our defense industrial base – keeping our ships repaired, modernized, and ready to answer the call at a moment’s notice. They deserve the certainty of a paycheck for the critical work they perform, regardless of political gridlock in Washington. I’m proud to join Rep. Goodlander in this bipartisan effort to ensure our shipyard workers and their families are supported during a government shutdown,” said Congresswoman Kiggans.
“The men and women employed at military sites like Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in my home state of Hawai?i are hardworking Americans who show up to work every day, serving as the backbone of our national defense and maritime infrastructure. During a government shutdown, they shouldn’t be faced with additional stress, worries, and anxiety over whether they can put food on the table and pay their bills,” said Rep. Tokuda, member of the House Armed Services Committee. “That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor the Pay Our Public Shipyard Workers Act to ensure these essential workers receive the pay they need and deserve. It’s about fairness, stability, and respect that we owe to the people who help keep our country safe.
Background:
There are four public shipyards in the United States –– Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY), Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS&IMF), and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY&IMF) –– that are critical to our warfighting ability and national security.
During a government shutdown, many of the civilian and military workforce at our shipyards are furloughed or asked to work without pay –– including their base pay, basic housing allowance, or basic allowance for subsistence. These women and men are essential to our national security, and many already live paycheck to paycheck.
This legislation would ensure that a lapse in government funding would not impact their ability to be paid or complete their essential mission.