U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D: MD) brought her Maryland Jobs Tour to St. Mary’s County on Wednesday. During the tour Mikulski met with Patuxent River Naval Air Station officials, representatives of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance and the Patuxent Partnership, and toured the BAE Systems facility on Three Notch Road in California. It was Mikulski’s first visit to St. Mary’s County since her re-election to a fifth term in the U.S. Senate in 2010. She is the longest serving woman in the history of the U.S. Congress.
In a brief press conference after the BAE tour, Mikulski said she wanted to use her position as chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee to make sure that “Pax River is BRAC free,” noting the potential for another round of BRACs, or Base Realignment and Closures. Pax River has been the beneficiary of previous BRACs.
In a press release following the tour Mikulski pointed to her leadership “in passing the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, legislation that supports our military men and women. That legislation cancels Sequester for two years, providing certainty and stability for military leaders and defense contractors. That legislation also restores regular order for the next two years ensuring there will be no government shutdowns or rolling furloughs for service members or support staff.”
At the press conference the senator noted that there were a lot of proposals on the table for cuts in the Navy’s budget that could affect Pax River, but she would work to see that impacts are minimized, noting that “Big Navy” proposes a lot but that doesn’t mean it will stick.
Senator Mikulski said, “A stronger America begins at home. That’s why I’m here in Southern Maryland to talk jobs, jobs, jobs and my unwavering commitment to the men and women working to keep our nation safe.” She added, “I will continue to fight for Maryland’s public and private defense assets, keeping our nation safer and Maryland’s economy stronger.”
The press was not invited to the meetings with Navy officials and the Southern Maryland Navy Allia
