Anniston Star
February 7, 2003

Rogers' committee seats may aid Anniston Army Depot

By Jessica Centers
Star Washington Correspondent
02-07-2003

WASHINGTON
Third District Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Saks, secured seats on the Readiness and Strategic Forces subcommittees of the House Armed Services Committee Thursday - assignments that put him in a position crucial to protecting eastern Alabama's military installations, including the Anniston Army Depot.

The readiness subcommittee oversees the Base Realignment and Closure process, which will determine whether the depot survives the federal government's next round of base closings, set for 2005.
In a statement released by Rogers' office, Ray Minter, the Anniston Army Depot's chief of staff, said Rogers' assignments were crucial to the depot and the state.

"This is outstanding news," Minter said. "There are many statewide benefits to these appointments, but the biggest asset to the district in my mind is being on the front lines for the battle against (base realignment)."

The depot's more than 4,000 employees and $484 million budget are critical to the area's economy, which is still recovering from the closing of Fort McClellan in 1999.

"I'm working to make sure the depot, Maxwell-Gunter and Benning are fully funded and primed to grow," Rogers said. "Getting appointed to these subcommittees will help tremendously in that effort."

The freshman congressman also will oversee training, logistics and military construction as a member of the readiness subcommittee. On the strategic forces subcommittee, he will oversee space and ballistic missile defense programs with fellow Alabama congressman and the subcommittee chairman Terry Everett, 2nd District.