(Washington, DC) - Regarding the President's address to the nation, Congresswoman Corrine Brown made the following statement: With regard to the official Quadrennial Defense Review decision to officially choose home porting a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at Mayport Naval Station, Congresswoman Corrine Brown made the following statement:

"The Navy's decision to choose home porting a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at Mayport Naval Station is simply great news for the city of Jacksonville and for the residents of the North East Florida community!  Certainly, our community is ready and willing to support the men and women who are putting their lives on the line to protect the nation.

This will serve not only as a tremendous boost for Mayport and the Navy presence in our state, but also as an economic stimulus for the local economy.  With unemployment soaring in the state of Florida, the jobs created to upgrade the port in preparation for the carrier's arrival are desperately needed and could not have come at a more perfect time.

According to the Navy, the decision to keep a nuclear carrier at Mayport was one of 13 options they were considering as a way to maintain a dispersed carrier fleet.  Now that the decision is final, we will see an additional 3,190 military personnel brought to our area and a spike in development.  The Navy is estimating that they expect the work should be completed more or less within the next five years.

Again - I am not only pleased that a nuclear carrier will be based right here on the First Coast, but strongly believe it is also a decision that will make our country safer.  Indeed, this will tremendously augment our nation's national security, and Jacksonville is a perfect place to assist the Navy in this endeavor."

###