The closing of the Avondale Shipyard would have devastating consequences on the housing market across New Orleans and jeopardize that area’s recovery from hurricanes and floods, according to a new study released today. 

When a member of a congregation falls on hard times, it’s not unusual for church members to offer up their prayers. But it is unusual for 120 congregations spanning denominations to send prayers for recovery to a shipyard and the 5,000 people its closure is putting out of work.

House Republicans once again thumbed their noses at American workers last week by voting to give $310 million of taxpayer dollars to reward the owners of the Avondale (La.) shipyard for shutting down and putting nearly 5,000 people out of work. The House rejected by a margin of 246-177 an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act offered by Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) that would have prevented the government from refunding $310 million to Huntington Ingalls Industries for closure costs at Avondale. Nineteen Republicans voted to support the measure.

In letters to President Obama, more than 500 small business owners serving the Avondale (La.) Shipyard community compared Northrop Grumman’s plans to shut down the Avondale  shipyard to “pirates in earlier era who scuttled ships to keep their foes from using them.” The giant shipyard is closing to maximize corporate profits, not because it is losing money.

Northrop Grumman is preparing to spin off its shipbuilding business next month, putting 4,000 skilled workers at the Avondale Shipyard in Louisiana out of work. The layoffs would devastate the Gulf region’s economy and the communities dependent on the shipbuilding industry.