Ruppersberger Vows To Fight for USNS Comfort

U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger said today he would fight to keep the USNS Comfort from moving from Baltimore to Norfolk, VA next year.

WBAL-TV reported that the Navy would save around $2 million annually with the move from the Port of Baltimore.

But, moving the naval hospital ship would also be a huge blow to the Maryland economy, with estimates that it has generated $35 million annually for the state since being docked in the Port of Baltimore dating back to the 1980s, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Here is Ruppersberger’s complete statement regarding the Navy’s decision to move the USNS Comfort:

“The Comfort is a source of pride, jobs and tax dollars for Maryland. The Navy feels that this move will be better for their interests and bottom line, which I understand and appreciate during this difficult economy. That said, the government recently spent $5 million to upgrade the Comfort’s pier in Baltimore, allowing it to lay berth there for another 20 years. I will continue to do everything I can to make that happen.”

What will the loss of the USNS Comfort mean to Maryland? Tell us in the comments sections below