PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) - Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers from Maine and New Hampshire have rallied to call on Congress to cancel automatic budget cuts that will affect their pay.

About 150 people gathered Thursday afternoon at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, across the river from the Kittery, Maine, shipyard.

Civilian workers at the shipyard and throughout the United States expect to be told soon they will be forced to take 22 days off without pay between April and Sept. 30 if nothing happens to change the cuts, known as sequestration.

Earlier Thursday, Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree took to the floor of the U.S. House to give her support to the workers and criticize Congressional inaction leading to the cuts.

The shipyard employs about 4,700 civilian workers in Maine and New Hampshire.