U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, and a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers toured New Jersey’s military installations Friday. The day began at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB-MDL), the nation’s only tri-service base.

The visits and briefings, organized by Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), the Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee who represents Picatinny Arsenal, were headed by Lt. Gov Kim Guadagno and Brig. General Michael Cunniff, the top commander of the New Jersey National Guard. Also participating in the day-long affair were Reps. Leonard Lance (NJ-07), Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02), Tom MacArthur (NJ-03), David Norcross (NJ-01), Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), Donald Payne (NJ-10), and Albio Sires (NJ-08), as well as congressional staff.

“It’s very important the whole delegation is mobilized to support and protect New Jersey bases,” said Smith, noting that cuts in military budgets are having an impact and a potential Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round is a threat. “Our state’s bases contribute to each of the services’ missions and are critical components of our national security. We need to be prepared to welcome new missions and find ways to modernize and grow existing missions.”

Smith cited an example of identifying and then working to advance one of the largest military construction projects in the state. The Communications and Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) Flight Activity (CFA) on the former Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station side of JB-MDL, is currently in Hangar 5, an aging 1940s-era wooden structure that has deteriorated, threatening to damage aircraft and equipment… and thus threatening the mission.

“We mobilized to save Lakehurst in 1995,” Smith said. “Ever since, we try to identify projects such as a new CERDEC hangar that would make the Joint Base even more valuable. Six years ago it was just an idea. Today it’s a $42 million project that’s under construction, under budget and set to open next year.”

Smith noted that early on there were concerns that the condition of the hangar facility might tempt the Pentagon to pull up stakes in New Jersey and send the mission—and jobs—elsewhere.

In addition to the hangar, hundreds of millions of dollars in other modernization projects have been built over the past 15 years, including first-rate family housing, updated training facilities and hangars, and facilities for new missions.

“Today the Joint Base stands as a model, state-of-the-art facility with Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine and Coast Guard operations, including airlift and air refueling, soldier training and deployment and aircraft carrier research and development,” he said. “We need to work as a team to give our bases the best chance to continue the critical work they do.”

The Joint Base contributes nearly $7 billion to the state economy, and is New Jersey’s second largest employer. Smith’s district includes over half of the Joint Base, and a large portion of Earle.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Photo showing the whole conference table was at a briefing held at the New Jersey National Guard Headquarters on Joint Base McGuire Dix-Lakehurst. Cong. Smith is second from the right. The Joint Base stretches 20 miles across, and over 38,000 people work on the base.

Photo of the Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno shows Cong. Smith to the left (background) and Cong. Rodney Frelinghuysen to the right (foreground) listing to the briefing of the functions and missions performed at the Joint Base.

The helicopter is a NJ National Guard Blackhawk helicopter which flew from Picatinny Arsenal to Earle Naval Weapons Station, the final base to be visited.

The last photo is of the nine Members of the Congressional Delegation, the Lt. Gov. and military staff in an auditorium at Picatinny Arsenal. Cong. Smith is second from the left.

[TLS]