April 21, 2019 Media, Press Releases

Norcross Tours Picatinny Arsenal, Gets Reassurances Jobs Will Stay in NJ

InsiderNJ.com
April 21, 2019

WHARTON, NJ – U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) – Chair of the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces and a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee – today toured Picatinny Arsenal, which plays a key role in developing and supporting the munitions of the U.S. Army and contributes to the state’s economy, and received assurances from senior leadership on-site that the Army has no plans to shift Picatinny’s critical mission set or high-tech jobs to another location.

“As the only comprehensive armament facility of its kind in the United States, Picatinny Arsenal plays a unique role in our country’s ability to wage war,” said Chairman Norcross. “Today, at our joint service armament research and development center, I saw firsthand how the latest technologies are being used to create the most advanced weapons for our servicemembers. By meeting with the high-quality, high-skilled workforce, it was obvious how the arsenal, along with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, contributes to New Jersey’s economy and is indispensable to our national security. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and I are committed to protecting and strengthening the arsenal, and it’s reassuring that both of us have heard that the important work done at Picatinny will remain here in New Jersey.”

At the arsenal, Norcross met with 4-Star General John Murray of the Army Futures Command; Dr. Bruce D. Jette, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology; Brigadier General Alfred Abramson; Mr. John Hedderich, Director of Army Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny Arsenal; Army Colonel Elliott Caggins; Mr. Joseph Perri; and Mr. Dave Rogers.

Norcross toured the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) site and was briefed on plans to build a new Munitions Disassembly Complex at the arsenal. The visit comes after the Administration declared a national emergency on the southern border in February and announced intentions to potentially repurpose $3.6 billion in military construction funding to pay for a border wall, including $41 million for the Munitions Disassembly Complex.

He added: “Critical military construction projects at Picatinny and sites across the country must be allowed to proceed as Congress intended. The proposed changes will directly harm our servicemembers’ safety and undermine our country’s ability to fulfill overseas missions and thwart potential threats.”

In March, Norcross and the New Jersey delegation continued their efforts to protect New Jersey military funding from being diverted from their intended purpose.

Later this year, Norcross will be hosting a New Jersey Congressional Delegation tour of major military facilities in the state, including Picatinny Arsenal, with Governor Phil Murphy.

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