WASHINGTON, D.C.--Reps. Rob Andrews (NJ-01) and Jim Saxton (NJ-03) today announced that the General Accounting Office (GAO) has concluded that the United States Navy Donation Office applied its donation evaluation criteria in an "impartial, multiple-stage process that led to a credible and objective decision."   In March of this year, two members of Congress commissioned the GAO study alleging that the decision to berth the Battleship New Jersey in Camden instead of Bayonne was not based on the overwhelming merits of Camden's application.

"I thank the GAO for their diligence in this matter and I am extremely pleased, but not surprised that they have found that the Navy's decision to berth the USS New Jersey along the Camden Waterfront was done objectively," said Rep. Andrews.  " South Jersey worked very hard to present a compelling and objective case to berth the USS New Jersey to the U.S. Navy which conducted an extensive and objective review of both applications before coming to the conclusion that Camden was the better choice." 

"This is the definitive end of the battleship competition," Saxton said. "The GAO has provided an independent vindication that the Navy fairly weighed all considerations when it chose Camden as the final home for the Big J. Congressman Andrews and I didn't ask for this study, but we accept its findings as impartial. I expect the battleship New Jersey will become a popular addition to Camden Waterfront, creating jobs and drawing tourists to the Delaware Valley. I can hardly wait for the grand opening of the ship as a naval museum for all of New Jersey."

The United States Navy decided in January of this year to berth the USS New Jersey along the Camden Waterfront.  It is due to be berthed in the Delaware River along the waterfront near the Camden E-Center sometime during 2001 where it will serve as a floating museum.

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