H-55                 _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2133

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                        1986 First Special Session

By Representatives G. Nelson, C. Smith, Chandler, S. Wilson, Hankins, Allen, Barrett, B. Williams, Sanders, Dobbs, Lundquist, Isaacson, Doty and May

Read first time 8/1/86 and referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

AN ACT Relating to the establishment of a United States Navy Carrier Battle Group in Puget Sound at Everett; creating a new section; and providing for submission of this act to a vote of the people.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The Washington State Legislature and the People of the State of Washington call upon the United States Congress to recognize the immense value to the nation and the northwest region that would be obtained by the placement of a United States Navy Carrier Battle Group in Puget Sound at Everett.

          The strategic concept of home porting will effectively improve our nation's defense.  The current practice of berthing the United States Navy's 600 ships in just three ports is not as safe, efficient, or  economical as assigning ships to ports in or near the area they are to protect.

          The nearly forty-eight million dollars worth of annual maintenance work which would be generated by the task force would do a great deal to revive northwest shipyards whose employment levels have dropped from over 12,000 shipyard workers to under 2,000 in less than five years.

          The economic benefits of construction, maintenance, and procurements of the Navy base and the base payroll would all work to the advantage of the Pacific Northwest.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     This act shall be submitted to the people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at a special election to be held in conjunction with the next succeeding primary election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state Constitution, as amended, and the laws adopted to facilitate the operation thereof.