News
13News Special Report: Sequestration: Finding our future Part II
Preserve Our Fleets. Protect Our Economy. Voice Your Concern.
The following downloads are available as samples for you to download and place on your own letterhead.
Ship repairers make up more than 40,000 workers in Hampton Roads. The pride they take in keeping the US Navy fleet ready for maximal operation is a critical part of the maritime industry in Virginia. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter issued a memorandum outlining steps the Pentagon is taking in response to the budget uncertainty and challenges as a result of operating under a continuing resolution and the growing threat of sequestration. With sequestration being signed by President Obama on March 1st, 13 ships maintenance schedules are due to be cut in Hampton Roads.
This threatens the nation's defense readiness and the capability of the US Navy to carry out its' principal missions.
As of March 4th, 2013, the House is proposing short-term spending to avoid this detrimental cut in the near term. The vote is scheduled for Thursday March 6th, 2013. CALL your congressional members to voice your thoughts on this proposal.
We are asking VSRA members and the Hampton Roads Community to contact their members of Congress and urge them to enact appropriations bills for FY13 that fund critical mission support, including ship depot maintenance and stop the long-term damage the sequestration funding cuts would have on fleet preparedness.
WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE PHONE CALLS!
Senate Contact Information Excel Spreadsheet
House of Representatives Contact Information Excel Spreadsheet
Senate Armed Services Committee
House Armed Services Committee
Senate Appropriations Committee
House Appropriations Committee
Download VSRA Member Company Letter to Virginia Senators and Representatives
Download Industry Company Letter to their Members of Congress
Download Community/Employee Support Letter to Virginia Senators and Representatives
View the Letter sent on behalf of VSRA Members to Congressman Rigell
Link to the SCA Voter Voice System
Be Informed!
March 12, 2013 Letter from Senator Warner
March 1, 2013 WVEC Panel Interview with Bill Crow
March 4, 2013 House Proposal Could Stopgap Detrimental Navy Maintenance Cuts
Feb. 22, 2013 Fox Special Report: Virginia Community Braces for impact of defense cuts.
Feb. 21 Washington Post Military Service Chiefs Warn...
Feb. 19, 2013 1,600 Shipyard Workers receive WARN Notice
Feb. 4, 2013 WTKR Cuts Damaging
Jan. 30, 2013 Hagel: Sequester cuts would devastate military
Jan. 26, 2013 Virginia faces $1.4B loss under planned Navy cuts
Jan. 17, 2013 Sequester's a nightmare but a year long CR is just as bad: SecNav Mabus
Jan. 10, 2013 Statement from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Presentation by CUSFFC Admiral Gortney to the SNA National Symposium
Updates on Hearsay with Cathy Lewis and Bill Crow Starts at 41:34
ODU Professor Vinod Agarwal: 28,700 jobs lost
San Diego Union-Tribune: 6,000 Jobs will be lost
What Sequestration Means for You
NNS Mike Petters in the Virginian-Pilot
Carter: Sequestration would demonstrate...US Lacks Resolve
WVEC: Small Business Impacts are Already Being Felt
Bill Clifford, BAE on CBS
Congress takes a Week Long Break with Sequestration Looming
Small Business in Hampton Roads Could be Hit Hard
Navy Impact Featured on Netherlands Public Broadcasting
Choppy Waters for Ship Maintenance
NBC News: Navy Releases List of Cuts
Marine Log
2013 Tradesmen of the Year Awardees!
May 23, 2013
Congratulations to Jr. Tradesman of the Year Steven Pulliam and Sr. Tradesman of the Year Dennis Bueso. The judging was tough in both categories and is conducted blindly, so congratualtions also to Oceaneering for taking home both awards this year! Both cadidtes showed exemplary performance in innovation, expertise in craft, mentorship and community service. We are proud of them and all of our skilled workforce. Together we are The Strength Behind the Fleet!
Senate to Introduce Version of House Spending Bill Next Week
March 05, 2013
The House passed a spending bill that will fund Navy fleet maintenance and avert the defense crisis. Senator Mark Warner explains the current situation in this LETTER. The Senate is expected to introduce their own version of the budget the week of March 13, 2013.
Link to Latest News
Link to Congressional Contact Lists
VSRA Members are Making their Voice Heard!
February 21, 2013
Your calls and letters are turning up the heat in D.C. Read more on how to expand the impact you are having!
Read the full article
Our Navy Fleet MUST NOT be Neglected: Voice your Concern!
February 04, 2013
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter issued a memorandum outlining steps the Pentagon is taking in response to the budget uncertainty and challenges as a result of operating under a continuing resolution and the growing threat of sequestration.
Read the full article
SecNav Mabus: Sequester's a nightmare but year long CR is just as bad.
February 04, 2013
[Sequestration "would be $4.6 billion hit for the Department of the Navy," said Mabus in his speech. "If that continuing resolution is extended for the rest of the fiscal year that's another -- exactly the same number -- $4.6 billion hit."]
Full Article on AolDefense
Women in Motion
November 02, 2012
Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Women’s Exchange presents Women in Motion. Recognizing local outstanding women.
Guest Speaker: Deborah Stearns of Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate
November 8, 2012 (11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) at Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina: 700 Settlers Landing Road Hampton, VA. Tickets are $35.00 for members and non-members; you may purchase ticket(s) at www.OWEevents.com
Winners:
Nicole Stuart of Top Guard Security: Outstanding Woman of the Year
Erin Black of Old Point National Bank: Young Professional Woman of the Year
Sharon Durrette-Hunt of Enspyr, LLC: Outstanding Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year
OSHA Directive Extreme Heat-Related Outdoor Inspections
July 26, 2012
Due to some extreme heat facing much of the country this summer, late last week OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Richard Fairfax sent a memo to OSHA regional enforcement officers directing them to "expedite heat related inspections and to issue citations, where appropriate, as soon as possible." OSHA will be assessing citations using criteria laid out in the attached memo using the General Duty Clause of the OSHAct. The memo further states that should the requisites not be met in full to warrant a General Duty Clause citation, OSHA will issue employers a Hazard Alert Letter (HAL) recommending specific steps to abate heat related hazards. The entire memo is attached with more information, including a sample HAL.
Please click here to view the Memo Fairfax to RAs re heat July 2012.pdf.
Please be sure to review your policies. Please also see OSHA's recent website and associated resources focusing on heat illness here: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html.
July 17th General Membership Luncheon Presentation
July 18, 2012
To view Bill Clifford's presentation on Hampton Roads ship home porting changes and sequestration impacts from the July 17th VSRA General Membership meeting, please click here.
“Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance (HRMMFA) Releases Study on Direct Economic Impact of Federal Spending on the Hampton Roads Region”
July 17, 2012
Please click here to view the ODU study that addresses the economic impact of all Federal spending on the Hampton Roads region.
USCG - OPC draft RFP
June 22, 2012
The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that it has released a draft Request for Proposal (dRFP) for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) project. The dRFP provides the shipbuilding industry an opportunity to preview and submit feedback on contents and requirements that may potentially be included in the formal RFP for the preliminary design and construction of the OPC. Comments on the dRFP should be submitted by July 16. (6/15/12).
© Dennis L. Bryant – June 2012
Redistribution permitted with attribution