July 9, 2019 Mastriano Named to Military Enhancement Commission

HARRISBURG – State Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33) has been named to the Pennsylvania Military Enhancement Commission for the 2019-2020 legislative session.

The commission was established in 2014, and is tasked with advocating for the state’s 13 major military installations.

The appointment was made by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati.

“As a soldier who spent 30 years on active duty fighting several of the nation’s wars, I know first-hand the value of our state’s military installations,” said Mastriano. “They support thousands of jobs, advance national security interests and inject billions into PA’s economy.  More importantly, however, they save lives.”

 “During the post 9/11 wars, insurgents resorted to Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks against our military personnel. The United States was ill-prepared for this and thousands of our military vehicles were ‘soft skinned,’ offering little to no protection to our troops,” continued Mastriano. “As the casualties mounted, the Department of Defense belatedly responded by purchasing up-armored vehicles to protect our men and women. However, there would be a delay by several years for this new equipment.  There was no time to waste, and Letterkenny Army Depot literally stepped into the gap, by rapidly up-armoring a fleet of our military vehicles, which saved lives in both Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Mastriano finished: “Thank God we have such a national treasure in our state. They demonstrated the importance of these installations. My job will be to ensure that Letterkenny and the other essential military installations in our state do not close down due to short-sighted ideas from government bureaucrats.”

The 17-member Commission reviews and analyzes Federal Base Realignment and Closure activities, which have a significant impact on military installations and economic development in communities across Pennsylvania.  The PA Military Community Enhancement Commission is established under the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development, and it coordinates its work with Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation.

The Commission also identifies and provides funding for economic development projects that improve the military value of installations, and protects mission-essential jobs supported by the Department of Defense’s investment in Pennsylvania.

CONTACT: Scot Pitzer (717) 787-4651; spitzer@pasen.gov.

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