President Obama to speak in Newport News - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - President Barack Obama is visiting Virginia to detail the effects of automatic spending cuts set to take effect this week.

Obama will speak at Newport News Shipbuilding on Tuesday.

The shipyard is the largest industrial employer in Virginia. It builds and maintains the nation's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers as well as other warships.

Obama's visit comes days before the Friday deadline in which automatic government spending cuts kick in unless Congress acts to avoid them.

With its vast military and defense operations and civilian shipbuilding activities, Virginia is expected to be 1 of the hardest hit states if the cuts happen.

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