Video of Congressman Shuster at the Letterkenny Army Depot

Groundbreaking at the Letterkenny Army Depot

Yesterday in Chambersburg, Congressman Shuster joined members of the Letterkenny Army Depot team to symbolically break ground on a new Army Reserve Center that when completed, will serve as the home to 300 Guardsman from a variety of detachments.

As part of the Department of the Army’s Military Construction projects, the center, which is being built on a 9.5 acre plot, will consist of more than 54,000 square feet and cost a projected $14. 6 million when completed by August 2010. Congressman Shuster secured full funding for this project as part of the FY09 appropriations process.

The units that will benefit by this construction project are the Headquarters Element, Army Reserve Defense Information Systems Agency; the 52nd Military History Detachment; 630th Detachment 1 and the 811th Platoon AMMO , 316th ESC; 200th MP Command and the 99th RSC AMSA 113.

According to Army officials, consolidating facilities will save billions, allowing the Department of the Army to focus funds on maintaining and modernizing facilities needed to better support our forces, recruit quality personnel, modernize equipment and infrastructure, and develop the capabilities needed to meet 21st Century threats.

Shuster tours the Mahantango Tire Recycling Facility in Juniata County

Last Thursday, Congressman Shuster toured the Mahantango Tire Recycling facility in Juniata County. Mahantango Enterprises, Inc. has been in the tire recycling industry since 1989. Founded by M. Roger & Leona Hess, Mahantango Enterprises remains a family owned and operated establishment. Using state of the art computerized production equipment; Mahantango produces a unique rubber granule made from 100% scrap tires. The steel belting from the tires is not a concern since Mahantango’s state of the art facility utilizes the most advanced magnetic separation equipment that will remove most of the metal.

Local media round-up

Over August, Congressman Shuster has been traveling the 9th district to meet with constituents and tour local businesses. Here is a round-up of the media coverage of Congressman Shuster's district tour so far.

8-18-09 WHAG: Shuster spends time in Fulton County; Shuster to tour JLG plant

8-16-09 Somerset Daily American: Addison VFD receives grant

8-16-09 Uniontown Herald Standard: Shuster discusses healthcare, economy at luncheon

8-13-09 Fox Business: Norfolk Southern provides $100,000 to Penn State Altoona

Shuster tours the Energex Corporation in Mifflintown

Yesterday, Congressman Shuster toured the Energex Corporation in Mifflintown to see first hand how the company is expanding its operations and adding jobs to the local community. Energex is one of the largest manufacturers of residential wood pellet fuel in North America. Energex’s Mifflintown, PA facility is currently undergoing an expansion, which will double the company’s wood pellet fuel capacity from 60,000 to 120,000 tons.

The Shuster Standard for August

Shuster Standard for August 2009

Shuster visits JLG in McConnellsburg

Yesterday, Congressman Shuster visited JLG's plant in McConnellsburg to see how the firm is progressing in building MATV all-terrain vehicles for our troops in Afghanistan.

Last month, JLG’s parent company Oshkosh was awarded a billion dollar contract to produce and deliver 2,244 M-ATVs to our forces in Afghanistan. JLG will also benefit from a second order announced earlier this month for 1,700 additional M-ATVs valued at $1.06 billion.

The M-ATV is a more maneuverable, off road version of the highly successful IED resistant MRAP. The production of these vehicles will enable JLG to call back between 550 and 650 employees to fill the DOD’s order.

Shuster's tour of the JLG plant coincides with his recent trip to Afghanistan to review our strategy against the Taliban. Shuster met with high-level Afghani officials as well as the U.S. commander, General Stanley McChrystal.

Shuster gets on-the-ground assessment of Afghanistan situation

Marks 3rd Trip to Afghanistan to Meet with Troops

During the first week of August, Congressman Bill Shuster visited Afghanistan as part of a Congressional Delegation with senior members of the House Armed Services Committee to review the security situation in the country and get a first hand assessment of President Obama’s new strategy and operations against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

“As we increase the number of American troops serving in Afghanistan, it is critical that members of Congress get a first-hand assessment of how our commanders are planning strategy and how the Afghan government intends to improve security,” Shuster said. “Briefings in Washington are no substitute for seeing the situation with my own eyes and offering support and thanks to our troops in the field.”

The timing of Shuster’s trip comes at a critically important point with national elections in Afghanistan scheduled for August 20th. The last election held in Afghanistan was October of 2004 in which President Hamid Karzai was elected to serve a five-year term in office. Additionally, the new U.S. Commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal is in the process of conducting a 60-day review to include a thorough assessment of the war effort.

“We face a critical point in Afghanistan and I believe General McChrystal has developed a strategy that will defeat the counter insurgency that we and the Afghan people face,” Shuster said from Afghanistan. “It will require more manpower and funding from the U.S. and our coalition partners. More importantly it will demand more of the Afghan people. It will be tough and it will take more time. Our troops are ready willing and able to succeed but they cannot do it without the support and will of the American people.”

During his visit to Afghanistan, Shuster met with the five major figures that are in charge of shaping a modern Afghanistan. Shuster met with President Hamid Karzai; Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar; the Minister of Defense Abdul Rahim Wardak; U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenbery; and U.S. Commander General Stanley McChrystal. Congressman Shuster also met with our soldiers serving in Afghanistan throughout his trip.

“This fight is not just about Afghanistan denying AQ and Taliban operational space it also is about make certain that the Islamic extremists don't destabilize Pakistan and get their hands on their nuclear weapons,” Shuster said.

“Our troops are doing their absolute best to take the fight to the Taliban, and we need to make sure they have the training, equipment and support necessary to complete their mission,” Shuster said. “But the fighting is one part of a larger mission in Afghanistan. The United States and our allies must continue to fund and support efforts that will create lasting security in Afghanistan and eliminate safe havens for terrorists.”

The United States currently has over 50,000 troops in Afghanistan and President Obama has promised to increase that number by 10,000 by 2012. In addition, the Administration is also considering doubling the size of the Afghan military and police force by 2011.

Government run healthcare could cover abortion

Breaking story on Drudge via Yahoo News: "Gov't insurance would allow coverage for abortions."

This is a must read and another reason why the American people are rejecting the plan offered by the Democrats. We must have healthcare reform. No one disagrees with that fact. However, the path to reform Congress chooses must not include taxpayer funded abortion.