Governor names Del. Rich Anderson to Virginia’s Sequester Commission

The Commission’s mission is to examine in detail the likely impact on Virginia of the defense cuts contained in the sequester, according to a news release from Anderson.

It will also focus on future Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) activities and craft the best course of action by the Commonwealth to future developments at the federal level.

The Commission was created immediately after the implementation of automatic federal sequestration cuts and will begin its work in the coming days.

Previously, Anderson served on a predecessor body, the Virginia Commission on Military and National Security Facilities, which took countermeasures over the last two years to lessen the effects of a surprise announcement by the federal government to inactivate U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) in Norfolk and to reduce Northern Virginia defense contracting activity by 30 percent. As a former military officer who was assigned for four years at JFCOM Headquarters, Anderson had hands-on knowledge of the JFCOM mission and its impact on the Hampton Roads area.

Additionally, Anderson sat at one time on an Air Force BRAC planning panel at the Pentagon and is familiar with the issues the new Commission will address in future BRAC cycles.

A retired 30-year U. S. Air Force colonel, Anderson represents the 51st House District in the Virginia General Assembly and serves as co-chair of the General Assembly Military and Veterans Caucus. He also serves on the Virginia Board of Veterans Services and on the Virginia War Memorial Board of Trustees.

Other members of the 10-member Commission include Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade James S. Cheng, Secretary of Finance Richard D. Brown, Secretary of Public Safety Marla G. Decker, Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Terrie L. Suit, Sen. Bryce E. Reeves (R-Spotsylvania), and four citizen members who have served as a General or Admiral in the armed forces of the United States.

The Commission will be chaired by recently retired U. S. Navy Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr., of Charlottesville, former commander of U. S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk.

Del. Anderson stated that “I sincerely value the opportunity to be a part of this group that will craft mitigating measures to lessen the impact of sequestration on our neighbors in Prince William County and across Virginia. Many of our fellow citizens in Occoquan, Woodbridge, Manassas, Brentsville, and Nokesville have emailed and called me that they have received notice from their employers about significant reductions in their working hours and take-home pay. I’m concerned about this in an economy that continues to limp along and is made more uncertain by frequent talk from federal officials about additional tax increases and other financial burdens on working families.”

McDonnell was quoted as saying in the news release, “as the Governor of a Commonwealth with over 100,000 active duty military and over 800,000 veterans, long known for its important relationship with our nation’s military, the unconscionable part of these sequestration cuts is their long-term devastating impact on our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who are bravely engaged around the world.”

The full text of Executive Order No. 60 can be found at http://www.governor.virginia.gov/utility/docs/20130301154934702.pdf.

Anderson has asked residents of the 51st House District to stay in close contact with him regarding the impact of sequestration on their livelihood and families.  He may be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), at his legislative district office at 571-264-9983, or if the need is urgent, at his home phone in Woodbridge, 703-730-1380.