THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY VANCE, BAKER, PILEGGI, PIPPY, CORMAN AND WAUGH, JUNE 21, 2011

REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, JUNE 21, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Urging the Congress of the United States to reconsider the

establishment of the "National Museum of the United States

Army" in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and to continue the

development of the Army Heritage and Education Center in

Carlisle, Cumberland County, as an asset for Army outreach

efforts and education of citizens on the contributions of the

United States Army and its soldiers.

WHEREAS, The United States Army Heritage and Education Center

(USAHEC) is located in Carlisle, Cumberland County, and is the

Army's preeminent museum and research complex; and

WHEREAS, The USAHEC is a campus of 56 acres of land donated

by Cumberland County and valued at $3.3 million; and

WHEREAS, The USAHEC consists of a research library and

archives, a visitor and education center with an exhibit and

interpretive gallery, a soon-to-be complete conservation

facility and an Army heritage trail with period structures and

displays promoting United States Army values; and

WHEREAS, The USAHEC was constructed beginning in 2004 with

Federal, State and local funds totaling $48 million; and

WHEREAS, The USAHEC is an invaluable resource for the United

States Army and supports the Army's strategic communications

outreach based on its location, collection and physical plant;

and

WHEREAS, Last year more than 100,000 people visited the

USAHEC and the number of visitors has been increasing; and

WHEREAS, The Army announced on Friday, June 17, 2011, that

the national museum will be constructed in Fort Belvoir,

Virginia, at a cost of $155 million; and

WHEREAS, Thus far $57.8 million has been raised in private

donations for the museum, but taxpayer dollars will be necessary

to cover the shortfall; and

WHEREAS, This is an unnecessary expenditure of taxpayer

dollars when the USAHEC in Carlisle already has space available

to house a museum and is a premier location to receive visitors;

and

WHEREAS, Recently, a department of the United States Army

budget work group recommended closing USAHEC in Carlisle and

transferring its functions to Fort McNair, Washington, DC;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania urge the Congress

of the United States to reconsider the establishment of the

"National Museum of the United States Army" in Fort Belvoir,

Virginia, and support the continued development of the United

States Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle,

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.