Delegate Mark Sickles (D-43) has been appointed by Governor McDonnell to serve on the Commission on Military and National Security Facilities. The commission was formed in order to advise the Governor on strategies to “retain and grow military and national security installations and activities in Virginia”.  The first meeting will take place on Friday, September 3^rd in Richmond. 

“I look forward to joining four of my colleagues in the General Assembly, as well as military and business leaders from around the state to find solutions and to develop new ideas to strengthen and improve critical national security infrastructure and activity around the Commonwealth”, said Delegate Sickles, “I am happy to join Governor McDonnell in taking up the cause.”

“Our hands are full in preparing for Fort Belvoir’s expansion along Richmond Highway and I-95. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth is not currently in a position to invest in needed road infrastructure and transit. We are almost completely dependent on Congress to prevent a meltdown in our mobility and quality of life.”

“The basic building block of Virginia’s economy has been federal spending, particularly for defense purposes. While the private economy has diversified in recent decades, we would be negligent in our responsibility if we did not respond to the economic challenges stemming from the potential loss of the Join Forces Command.”

If you have ideas or suggestions regarding military and national security facilities that you would like to share with Delegate Sickles his office can be reached by phone at 703-922-6440 or e-mail at DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov