August 28, 2012

Manchin to Lead Roundtable On Saving Money and Strengthening Military with National Guard

Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction will also detail billions lost to waste overseas

Senator Manchin, General Hoyer and Guard officials will discuss how better using the Guard will keep a strong military by trimming fat from the budget, not muscle
 
Roundtable continues Senator Manchin’s ‘Building a Stronger America Together’ tour
 
Charleston, W.Va. – As part of his “Building a Stronger America Together” tour, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) will host a roundtable Wednesday morning with military leaders and national experts in saving money while strengthening the nation’s defense.
 
Roundtable participants include the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, Stuart Bowen, General James Hoyer and other National Guard personnel.
 
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Manchin played a vital role this spring in advancing a Defense spending proposal. Senator Manchin successfully amended the bill to reduce taxpayer spending on extravagant contractor salaries – which are currently up to four times greater than the salary of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Additional information about the National Defense Authorization Act will be distributed at the roundtable.
 
“The United States of America will always have the best military in the world, and we can strengthen our military by cutting fat, not muscle,” Senator Manchin said. “As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I’m determined to make sure our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to keep us safe and that taxpayers are not on the hook for extravagant contractor salaries. Not only that, I’ve always said that our National Guard in West Virginia is the best in the country and they can save millions of dollars in taxpayer money to get the job done.”
 
**For Planning Purposes – Events Have Been Added**
Public/Media Schedule for Senator Joe Manchin
 
WEDNESDAY, August 29
 
Senator Manchin hosts roundtable with National Guard leaders about how the Guard can help the military save money and strengthen our national defense.
 
Guest speaker: Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction to discuss waste
 
When: 8:30 a.m.
Where: West Virginia National Guard, NMP Tire Program, 150 57th St. SE, Charleston.
What: Senator will join Major General James A. Hoyer and the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction for a discussion about how the Guard can help the military save money and strengthen the national defense.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Media is invited to attend the event at two additional remote locations in Martinsburg and Camp Dawson:
 
Martinsburg Armory: 2096 Kelly Island Road (not at the Air Base)
Camp Dawson: 1001 Army Road
 
Senator Manchin speaks to attendees of the Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting and Business Summit
 
When: Noon.
Where: The Greenbrier, 300 West Main Street, White Sulphur Springs.
What: Senator will deliver remarks during the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 76th Annual Meeting and Business Summit.