July 1, 2005

Abercrombie comment on Pearl Harbor

Washington, DC -- Congressman Neil Abercrombie today made the following statement regarding the Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s request for justification for keeping Pearl Harbor Shipyard open: 

“We’re going to do everything in our power to keep Pearl Harbor open.  It’s going to take unity, focus and cooperation, but we have a strong case to make.  I agree with the Navy that Pearl Harbor is a key element of the nation’s security.  It’s the only naval shipyard in the Pacific. They can’t afford to send ships back to the east coast every time they need repair or maintenance.  With strategic focus shifting toward Asia and the Pacific, the Navy needs a shipyard in this hemisphere to keep its vessels fit to fight.  The Navy needs Pearl Harbor, and so does Hawaii.”