Posted on 08/20/2009 12:51:09 PM PDT by Born Conservative
TOBYHANNA — Wednesday was the second trip for U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-10, to the Tobyhanna Army Depot in four months to announce new government funds.
He's expecting to be back soon.
"I wouldn't doubt we'd be up here in the near future announcing more funding," he said.
Kanjorski on Wednesday announced $2.4 million in federal stimulus money going to infrastructure improvements around the depot.
Specifically, the money will be used to improve the quality of life at the depot's barracks for military personnel stationed there for training. About 2,000 troops pass through Tobyhanna in a year in addition to its 5,000-plus civilian work force.
The bathrooms in the barracks will be on the list of improvements, according to Herb Shirey, the depot's director of public works.
Shirey also said this most recent stimulus grant will be going toward three paving projects and other utilities projects.
In April, the depot announced $2.8 million in federal funding for repairs and construction of military family housing, upgrades to the water distribution system and other renovations.
Kanjorski said he has no problem asking for money from Congress for the depot because he's seen the grants go to good use.
"Dollar for dollar, we know that the money that goes into Tobyhanna goes to good use," he said. "It makes it a hell of a lot easier to knock on doors and say, 'We need money for Tobyhanna.'"
The depot's deputy commander, Frank Zardecki, said money is getting into the depot because its officials had long-range plans in place.
"We had the foresight to have these plans on the books in case funding became available," he said. "It's strategic planning."
Kanjorski said the jobs created to build these projects will be civilian positions.
Zardecki said the projects are scheduled to begin in the next three-to-four months and will be completed by next June.
The depot also announced it has awarded a contract to build a new 78,000-square-foot Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance C4ISR) center in the industrial section of the depot. The center will expand the facility's capacity to repair, refinish and paint large, tactical equipment.
The center will cost about $25 million.
Construction is supposed to start within 60 days and should be completed in 2011. L.R. Costanzo of Scranton was awarded the building contract.
Kanjorski said the money put to use not only at the depot — which employs more people in northeast Pennsylvania than any other company — but the entire military is useful and necessary and the technology upgrades make the United States the best military in the world.
"I think we can easily put a 1950 army out there on the battlefield and look successful," he said. "Because some of the countries we're fighting are putting out 1920s armies."
Kanjorski also took the time at the depot to praise President Barack Obama for his investigation into finding a health care plan he believes works better for America, even though he's not happy with the people who seemingly want to make matters worse.
"I'm a little disappointed with the people who just wanted to out-shout each other," he said, referring to the shouting matches some of the town hall health care reform meetings became over the past month. "In America, we should always talk not yell)."
Kanjorski is a typical PA Democrat.....getting taxpayer funds for relatives’ companies...he is as corrupt as possible, so he sucks up to Obama to avoid investigation.
Well, ... I’ve heard worse. At least its not going to ACORN.
“I think we can easily put a 1950 army out there on the battlefield and look successful,” he said. “Because some of the countries we’re fighting are putting out 1920s armies.”
God help us from fools such as this!!
"No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session."
none of our potential adversaries fall into this category.
PA voters would do well to replace this idiot.
We almost did last Fall. We’re getting closer and closer to retiring this Obama a$$ kisser.
Great name for a Japanese restaurant though!
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