Via speaks to Congress on National Security Readiness Insurance Policy

By Elizabeth Behring (AMC)May 20, 2016

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From the left, then Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick J. Murphy, Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., Army Materiel Command Commander Gen. Dennis L. Via and Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, and Katherine Hammack, the Army assistant secretary for installations, e... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Army Materiel Command Commander Gen. Dennis L. Via talked with congressional leaders and staff on Capitol Hill May 18 about the importance of the Army's Organic Industrial Base in providing Soldier readiness.

The annual House Depot Caucus breakfast, co-hosted by Via, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa), addressed the Army's urgent need to maintain a skilled workforce and defense manufacturing capabilities at the OIB, consisting of 23 depots, arsenals and ammunition plants dispersed across the United States.

"The OIB is a National Security Readiness Insurance Policy. We may not need it today, but just like homeowner's insurance, when we need it, it has to be current, dependable, responsive and reliable," Via said.

OIB facilities boast unique capabilities in maintenance, manufacturing and production, employing some 20,000 highly-skilled and dedicated civilians and contractors from the local economy.

"Our industrial base facilities provide key capabilities that meet the Army's enduring needs in an ever-changing environment, while remaining resolute in our ability to remain flexible should future requirements change," Via said.

Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy has seen first-hand the benefits of retaining these critical maintenance and manufacturing skills during visits to Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey and Anniston Army Depot in Alabama.

"The OIB is a national treasure that America cannot afford to lose," Murphy said. "Our industrial base team ensures our troops will never have a fair fight; they'll always have the technical and tactical advantage over our enemies. Our team is truly leading the way when it comes to innovation, research and executing our global supply chain."

Other members of Congress in attendance were Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Illinois), Rep. Cresent Hardy (R-Nevada), Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (R-N.C.), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas). House Armed Services Committee Professional Staff Members who also joined were Vickie Plunkett, Craig Collier, Mike Miller and Drew Warren.