(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman (R-1^st), Scott Rigell (R-2^nd) and Bobby Scott (D-3^rd) today met with U.S. Air Force Assistant Secretary Kathleen Ferguson, Deputy Chief Management Officer Mr. Bill Booth and Major General Theresa Carter for a briefing on proposed personnel reductions at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia.  Today’s meeting followed a July 15^th letter sent to by the Virginia delegation to the Secretary of the Air Force requesting a thorough briefing of the proposed personnel reductions, and the status of efforts to locate a new Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC)

As a result of the meeting:

• USAF committed to providing the delegation with specific details on personnel reductions within 30 days.

• USAF committed to using expansive personnel transfer authority to “go the extra mile” to accommodate civilian and military personnel dislocated by these reductions, including other federal or military agencies.

• And USAF acknowledged that Joint Base Langley-Eustis would be considered for the new Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, which could create up to 350 new positions.

Members of the delegation released the following joint statement following the briefing:

“We appreciate Air Force Secretary James and Assistant Secretary Ferguson providing us with today’s briefing on the proposed reductions at Langley. We remain committed to working together as a delegation to ensure that all of Virginia’s military and civilian Air Force employees are provided every opportunity to continue to serve. We also are committed as a delegation to explore all opportunities to highlight the considerable advantages and existing investments, already made at Joint Base Langley Eustis.”