Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, September 18, 1995

Second Congressional District of Maryland NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 Washington, D.C. 205 1 5 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Richard Cross September 1 8, 1 995 202-225-306 1 BETHSHIP AWARDED S20.4 MILLION CONTRACT BY U. S. NAVY The United States Navy has awarded a $20,455,171 contract to BethShip Sparrows Point Yard for the modification and renovation of the amphibious cargo ships ex-USS El Paso (LKA 117) and ex-USS Mobile (LKA 1 15), Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. (R-2nd., MD) announced today. Once the work is completed, the ships will be crewed by civilian mariners and used to transport tactical equipment and cargo for the U. S. Marine Corps. This contract contains options which— if exercised-will bring the total cumulative value of the contract to $26,400,000. Work on the two ships will be performed at Sparrows Point Yard and is expected to be completed by November 1996. “I am elated by the Navy’s decision to award this contract to BethShip,” Congressman Ehrlich stated. “This award is especially significant, because it comes so soon after the delegation’s successful effort to persuade the Navy to preserve Baltimore’s status as a homeport area. If the Navy had not ‘grandfathered’ in Baltimore’s homeport status-as requested by House Speaker Newt Gingrich and myself-BethShip would have been ineligible for this contract.” C