Lawmakers in Virginia have roundly protested proposed Defense Department cuts that could impact the commonwealth.
Now, they’ll have a chance to talk about it.
U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., and U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., have secured congressional hearings on the recently proposed Department of Defense cuts, which have sparked bipartisan opposition from Virginia legislators.
Most notable was the proposed shuttering of the Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, which prompted a letter signed by Democratic Reps. Glenn Nye and Bobby Scott, Republican Reps. Randy Forbes and Rob Wittman, as well as Webb and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.
Gov. Bob McDonnell also sent letters to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and President Obama about the proposed closing.
A House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee has agreed to Connolly’s request for a hearing on Gates’ proposal to reduce defense contracting by 10 percent per year for three years.
And U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, agreed with Webb’s request for a full committee hearing on Gates’ recommendation to close JFCOM.
Webb commended the decision Tuesday, saying, “Congress has an essential constitutional oversight in such matters. I believe that further action by the president or Secretary Gates should be suspended until Congress has had ample opportunity to review the full scope of the secretary’s actions.”
