Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, August 1, 1995

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Richard Cross August 1, 1995 202-225-3061 PORT OF BALTIMORE TO RETAIN HOME PORT STATUS The United States Navy has announced that the Port of Baltimore will retain its status as a home port area, Congressman Robert Ehrlich (R-2nd., MD) stated today. The Navy’s decision comes days after House Speaker Newt Gingrich— at the specific request of Congressman Ehrlich-personally contacted Defense Secretary William Perry to request that the Navy “reconsider” its decision to revise its homeporting policy in a manner which would have left the Port of Baltimore ineligible. According to current policy, ships may be repaired at facilities within a 160 mile radius of their home ports. BethShip-the shipbuilding arm of Bethlehem Steel Corporation based in Sparrows Point— has gotten about 20 percent of its business from the Navy since home port status was extended to Baltimore in 1986. Recently the Navy suggested revising this policy by reducing this radius to 75 miles— meaning that BethShip would be considered too far away to qualify for short-term repair contracts. The Navy has since indicated a willingness to ‘grandfather’ Baltimore and Portland, Oregon out of the proposed policy change. This means the Port of Baltimore’s status as a home port area remains unchanged, and the Navy is unlikely to change the policy in the future.