Virginia's powerful defense block
Delegation
on Capital Hill keeps military dollars flowing
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by
Alexander H. Haislip
When
it comes to defense on Capitol Hill, Virginia's congressional
contingent wields unusual clout. Eleven of the 13 members
of the state's delegation have seats on powerful committees
that decide weapons systems, work out military manpower
problems and make key recommendations for defense spending.
Much of that money, about $30 billion last year, ends
up across the Potomac River in the Old Dominion.
Leading
the pack is U.S. Sen. John W. Warner, who not only is
a former sailor and Marine Corps officer, but has held
high-ranking civilian posts in the Navy since 1969,
including a stint as Secretary of Navy from 1972 to
1974. In his 24 years in the Senate, Warner has been
head of the Senate Armed Services Committee and is still
a ranking member.
Warner's
years of service are evident in his Russell Office Building
on Capitol Hill. With its clutter of Navy ship photos,
stuffed wildlife and a model Norfolk & Western coal
train, it looks like a men's club. Taking a breather
from a Senate-floor debate, Warner slouches in an armchair
and ponders what gives Virginia its military muscle.
"Go back to (U.S. Rep.) Owen Pickett and (the late
Rep.) Norman Sisisky. This delegation has worked for
generations to get things that every other of the 49
states wants for themselves."
Among
the latest additions are expansions for the Virginia
Air Guard, whose Richmond-based F-16 fighters fly combat
patrol missions over Washington. They are trained to
roar in and shoot down planes should another tragic
terrorist hijacking occur as it did last year. Ft. Pickett
near Blackstone is getting upgrades to train troops
in anti-terrorism tactics, and defense contractors from
Northern Virginia to Radford are expected to win more
contracts as the defense budget expands to fight terrorism.
Virginia's
roster on Capitol Hill reads like an alphabet soup of
committees related to defense and international affairs.
U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis' district includes Langley Air
Force Base and Northrop Grumman New-port News shipyard.
She holds seats on the House Armed Services Committee
including subcommittees on Military Personnel and Military
Procurement as does Rep. Edward L. Schrock whose district
includes the Norfolk Naval Station, and Rep. J. Randy
Forbes. Rep. Robert C. Scott and Rep. Bob Goodlatte
have spots on the House Judiciary Committee groups studying
terrorism and homeland security. Most of the rest of
Virginia's delegation has some involvement with foreign
affairs committees or military construction.
Naturally,
defense campaign contributions follow defense budget
expenditures. Just about every member of the delegation
receives contributions from defense contractors in their
areas. One of the biggest is Northrop Grumman Newport
News, which, as an independently owned company, funneled
$10,000 apiece to the election campaigns of Davis and
Schrock in the past year. Other big contributors are
Falls Church-based General Dynamics, and Raytheon and
Lockheed Martin. Warner's biggest defense contributor
in the past year has been the giant shipyard in Newport
News, which kicked in $5,000. For a complete listing
of defense contributions to Virginia's congressional
delegation, consult our Web site at virginiabusiness.com.
Political campaign money and experience in the defense
industry help grease the way for Old Dominion's military
sector.
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