Press Release

January 25, 2010
TEAM MARYLAND ANNOUNCES $5.6 MILLION TO PREPARE FOR THOUSANDS OF BRAC JOBS
Funds will support road improvements near Ft. Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground

 

 

SEVERN, MD –
U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and
Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD)joined
Congressmen C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, (MD-2), John Sarbanes (MD-3) and
Frank Kratovil (MD-1) today to announce $5.6 million in new funding to help prepare Ft. Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground for the thousands of new jobs that will be heading to Maryland through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.  
 
The federal funds, which were included in the FY 2010 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that passed Congress in December, will pay for much-needed road improvements near Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County and Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County.  The Omnibus Appropriations Bill also included $2.5 million for BRAC-related improvements to Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County. Additionally, the FY 2010 Defense Appropriations Act, which also passed Congress in December, includes $130 million for BRAC-related improvement for the future Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. A total of 30,000 BRAC-related jobs are expected to come to Maryland at the four sites.
 
“The relocation of thousands of BRAC-related jobs to Maryland brings with it great responsibility and enormous economic opportunity,” said
Senator Cardin. “This year, Team Maryland secured more than $138 million in BRAC-related infrastructure improvements for Harford, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties that will make it possible for employees to get to their jobs safely and efficiently.”  
 
 “I fought to BRAC-proof Maryland’s bases, now I am working to BRAC-ready our transportation systems. Fort Meade will house high-tech, high-pay jobs of the future,”
Senator Mikulski said. “Their genius club at NSA, and soon-to-be DISA and Navy’s Cyber Command, will combat cyber spies, cyber criminals and cyber terrorists trying to steal our secrets and take our systems down. I wanted to make sure they – and the surrounding community – weren’t stuck in a traffic logjam. I am proud to partner with my Team Maryland colleagues to make BRAC a success and secure the federal funding needed to meet the increased demands on our communities.”
 
“In these trying economic times, additional high-paying jobs are music to our ears,” said
Congressman Ruppersberger, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “But we need to make sure that we preserve the great quality of life that residents experience all across the state, especially here in Anne Arundel County. Together, Team Maryland has worked hard over the last four years to make sure we have the proper infrastructure in place – everything from roads to schools to hospitals to public safety – to make the transition as smooth as possible as we welcome our new residents.”
 
 “BRAC is bringing thousands of new, good paying jobs to Maryland during difficult economic times,” said
Congressman John Sarbanes. “It is critical that we bolster our transportation infrastructure around Fort Meade so this economic growth is not stunted by traffic gridlock and does not diminish the quality of life in the surrounding area.”
 
“BRAC will bring new jobs while reinvigorating the workforce, commerce and economy of our region; but we need to be ready in order to fully realize the economic benefit it presents,” said
Rep. Frank Kratovil.  “We fought for these funds because they represent a significant federal investment in the future Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Grounds, the surrounding counties and the families who live there.”
 
 “The Maryland Department of Transportation’s relationship with Congressman Ruppersberger and our other federal partners has brought much needed and greatly appreciated funding for projects that benefit all who travel throughout Maryland,” said
State Highway Administrator Neil J. Pedersen. “The funds announced today will certainly help prepare for enhanced safety, improved traffic flow and ease of congestion for the Ft. Meade community.”
 
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