Rep. Markey, Sen. Kennedy, Gov. Romney Pitch Hanscom and Natick Expansion Plans

REP. MARKEY, SEN. KENNEDY, GOV. ROMNEY
PITCH HANSCOM AND NATICK EXPANSION PLANS
Visit Pentagon, Natick's Soldier Systems Command
over next two days

Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) on Wednesday morning will join Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Governor Mitt Romney and members of the state's congressional delegation on a visit to the Pentagon to meet with Michael Wynne, Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions. Technology and Logistics, and Phil Grone, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Installations and Environment. to discuss the recently announced plans to accommodate substantial additional mission at Hanscom Air Force Base and the Natick Soldier Systems Command if the Pentagon recommends such a move. Rep. Markey represents Lexington and Lincoln, two of the four communities surrounding Hanscom (Bedford and Concord are the others), and Natick, home of the Soldier Systems Command.

Rep. Markey, dean of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation said, "Today's visit offers our delegation an audience with key decision-makers at the Department of Defense regarding opportunities to enhance the military value of Hanscom and Natick. Our message has a "Field of Dreams" quality to it, with a twist; we will say essentially, "If they come, we will build it." The State of Massachusetts, with the full support of the entire congressional delegation and the strong support of the local communities and the businesses surrounding Hanscom and Natick, is proposing major improvements to both facilities if the U.S. Air Force and Army decide to bring new missions to Massachusetts. The Commonwealth is prepared to provide the buildings and the infrastructure improvements to accommodate the new missions, and bring 4,000 new jobs here in the process.

"The entire delegation has been working together with Senators Kennedy and Kerry and Governor Romney and his administration for about a year now to ensure that Hanscom Air Force Base and the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick are in the strongest possible position as we prepare for the 2005 Round of Base Realignment and Closure Commission deliberations."