Letter to Vice Admiral Dixon R. Smith, Commander, Navy Installations Command - Regarding Childcare Services at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Letter
Dear Admiral Smith,
As the Senate Armed Services Committee has noted, it can be difficult for servicemembers and Department of Defense civilians to focus on their duties if they are concerned about the well-being of their loved ones. That is why I have worked with the Navy and the Committee to ensure workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) have the access to quality and convenient childcare that they deserve. Based on information I recently received from the Navy, I am concerned about the Navy's delays in providing PNSY the resources it needs to improve unacceptable wait lists and wait times at its Child Development Center (CDC).
Despite including language in the Senate Armed Services Committee's Report on the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, querying the Navy repeatedly, and raising the issue with you in April, we have not seen improvement. In April, despite the best efforts of those at the shipyard, there were 163 families or more waiting for childcare at the PNSY CDC with average wait times of almost 300 days. According to information I received this month from the Navy, average wait times for children in category 2 remain above 300 days and average wait times for children in category 1 have actually worsened since April.
Last December, when I asked about the wait times at the PNSY CDC, the Navy said, "[the] Primary problem is lack of facility capacity, not staffing." When I asked you in April during my subcommittee's hearing about wait times as long as one year, you testified that three to four military learning classrooms (MLCs) would be installed by the end of this fiscal year. Now, the Navy informs my office that MLCs will not be installed until May 2017.
I am deeply concerned about this delay as workers at PNSY continue to wait for months and months to gain access to quality and convenient childcare. In light of this unacceptable situation, please answer the following questions:
1. What explains the eight month delay in installing MLCs?
2. What can the Navy do to expedite the installation of the MLCs?
3. In the meantime, what is the Navy doing to provide PNSY the resources it needs to address unacceptable wait times and wait lists at the CDC and to make life better for the workers at the shipyard?
I look forward to working together to address this issue without delay. Thank you for your distinguished service to our country.
Sincerely,
Kelly A. Ayotte
United States Senator
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