[StBernard] Landrieu Comments on New Fort Polk Brigade

[Westley Annis]

Landrieu Comments on New Fort Polk Brigade

As a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds Fort Polk,
Landrieu secured key new services.

 

WASHINGTON - United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today commented
on the U.S. Army's decision to add nearly 1,300 soldiers to a new
Battlefield Surveillance Brigade at Fort Polk near Leesville, Louisiana.
The announcement follows $17.7 million Sen. Landrieu secured for Louisiana
military bases in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed by the Senate late
last night.  Sen. Landrieu is a member of the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee on Military Construction that funds construction at military
facilities.  

The bill includes funding to build a Brigade Headquarters for the 4th
Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division.  The Fort Polk-based brigade has more
than 3,200 soldiers.  Sen. Landrieu also secured $6.1 million in the
spending bill for a childcare facility to be built at Fort Polk.

"On top of yesterday's success in the spending bill, today's announcement is
excellent news for Fort Polk and all of central Louisiana," Sen. Landrieu
said.  "Fort Polk is one of America's most essential military facilities and
is a significant part of the region's economy.  The addition of a new
brigade and 1,300 troops strengthens Fort Polk and the surrounding
communities of Deridder, Leesville and all of central Louisiana.  I was
proud to secure essential funding for Fort Polk in yesterday's omnibus
spending bill and will continue my fight for this key base and the
servicemen and women and families that make it a proud center of training
excellence."

The Battlefield Surveillance Brigade is part of a stationing plan advocated
by Sen. Landrieu that will increase the size of the Army by approximately
74,000 soldiers over the next five years.  The new brigade will provide
intelligence analysis and collection support through reconnaissance,
surveillance and intelligence operations. The brigade's capabilities include
a full range of advanced intelligence analysis and intelligence collection
that includes counterintelligence and long range surveillance.

"The Battlefield Surveillance Brigade will be an asset as America continues
to combat the forces of international terrorism," Sen. Landrieu said.
"Reconnaissance and intelligence are the most effective weapons we have in
confronting the terrorist threat and this unit reaffirms Louisiana's vital
role in ensuring the nation's security."

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