HR45

Hello Committee Members, Many of the arguments I would have made if I could attend today will most definitely come upon the hearing - so I’ll keep this short. It’s clear according to our maps, state seal, Raleigh ship, and legal history that NH owns the harbor and Badgers and Seavey islands. We should control our naval shipyard. As a NH enthusiast, I’d argue we’re better to manage this land and sea than Maine regardless of the fact that it is already legally proven to belong to us. We are an incredible state with the first constitution emphasizing our original claim to run this land in an organized and meaningful way. Think of the revenue we would gain. This is not a partisan issue, and NH really isn’t much of a partisan state. For the about 40% independents, for the republicans, for the democrats, for the libertarians, for all the other third parties, and for the isolationists - this is something we should all care about as New Hampshirites. The lobsters are ours ?? The naval shipyard is ours ?? This very small part East Coast is OURS ?? The concern we should address is that this is where Maine dumps much nuclear waste - a permanent devastation to our waters. This is of course something we’d have to deal with, but better is than Maine if it’s effecting our citizens on the coast! We need to make sure we keep our small patch of ocean clean and sustainable. Look at the map - Maine has an expansive coastline while NH has this one tiny stretch on our corner. For those of us Granite Staters who enjoy the beach and ocean activities, this small area is crucial to maintain. Let’s stop allowing Maine to poison our sea creatures and citizens! We must take back what’s ours.

As a citizen of New Hampshire and leader of New Hampshire First, a citizen advocacy group, I urge the committee to OTP this bill. No citizen of New Hampshire has ever empowered the state or the SCOTUS to cede NH territory to Maine. That is the strongest argument to try this rightful and simple remedy to a misapplied decision that happened only 50 years ago, after hundreds of years of the islands and rivers being New Hampshire territory. The general arguments are: The island is on our flag. The base is called Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. We own the whole Connecticut River, why wouldn't we own the Piscataqua? Maps of the colonies show the whole river and the islands are part of NH. The 1971 decision wasn't about the river, it was about coastal fishing waters and was misapplied to redraw our state boundary line. -Patrick Binder 603-417-9033

On Page 46 of the Senator Bob Smith Report under the year "1784" it reads "The Frigate is referred to as the Ship "Raleigh" by act of the New Hampshire Legislature. The Ship Raleigh is officially part of the State Seal which is depicted on our State Flag. Most Importantly, the SHip Raleigh was built on the stocks on Badger's Island" Our present NH Legislature must affirm the prior NH Legislature's actions with respect to our State Seal which Endures to this day, Badger's Island and Seavey's Island belong to NEW HAMPSHIRE. (mic drop)