Casey Urged Armed Services Committee to Reconsider Plans to Halt Production of Tank
WASHINGTON, DC — Following Senator Bob Casey’s (D-PA) urging, the Senate Armed Services committee today approved the Abrams Tank.
“This is the right thing to do. Suspending production of the Abrams tank would not be in the best interest of our national security, industrial base or local economy,” said Senator Casey. “We have a specialized workforce that manufactures this tank. The Army’s supply of this essential piece of equipment would be threatened if production is shut down.”
“General Dynamics appreciates the support that Senator Casey and the entire Pennsylvania delegation have demonstrated for the Abrams modernization program,” said Frank Fata, General Dynamics Plant Manager for Scranton Operations. “Maintaining steady production of the most technologically advanced and survivable tank in the U.S. arsenal is good for the workers of Pennsylvania, good for the Army and good for national security.”
Senator Casey has written a letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) urging the committee to reconsider plans to halt production of the tanks.
In the letter, he wrote: “I am concerned that this proposal will deny our Army the equipment necessary to prepare for and win our nation’s wars,” Senator Casey wrote in his letter. “Additionally, ceasing procurement of the Abrams tank is not in the best interests of the taxpayer and will significantly impact a key segment of our industrial base at a time when our economy is in recovery.”
Senator Casey also toured the facility in Eynon, PA this week to see firsthand the specialized work that goes in to tank production. The plant currently employs about 250 people, and the majority of the work at the plant is connected to the production of the Abrams tank.
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