Private ship repair yard leaders express concern over expected delay of new federal funding until March [Video]

NORFOLK, Va. — When Congress passes a continuing resolution (CR) later this week, the good news is there’ll be no government shutdown on Friday. But that also means that all appropriations will be delayed until next March, which is bad news for the Virginia Ship Repair Association (VSRA).

It means no new money coming in for the more than 300 member companies whose combined businesses have an economic impact in the Hampton Roads area of more than 79,000 jobs and $10.9 billion.

And that’s just the economic side of the equation. There’s also that national security side, with those companies tasked with keeping the Navy’s East Coast surface ships repaired and ready to fight.

VSRA President Bill Crow is worried.

“The continuing resolution for our industry is not ever good. If they’re not working out there, and there’s no work being done and there’s no income coming into those companies, they’ll …