Kaine Makes Stops In Radford & Roanoke
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, toured the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) to learn more about the important manufacturing work done at the facility. Following the tour, Kaine praised the collaboration of the military, federal government and contractors that has contributed to the plant’s high-quality manufacturing and production capacity.
“As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I interact a lot with men and women in uniform, but they can’t do their jobs if they don’t have the right tools,” said Kaine. “If the ammunition is low quality, they can’t do their jobs. What I saw here today was a high quality workforce that is very connected to the success of our servicemembers.”
A strong supporter of the RFAAP, Kaine announced last week that the Omnibus appropriations bill includes funding that will enable the facility to improve its capacity, cost efficiency and technical competence.
“The Radford funding included in the 2014 appropriations package will provide the necessary resources for much-needed upgrades to the aging facility, including critical structural improvements to meet the highest environmental standards and help the plant remain a stable industrial presence for the region.”
Later in the afternoon, Kaine traveled to Roanoke and stopped by the Big Brothers Big Sisters program at the Oliver Hill House to meet children in the program and thank the volunteers for their service to the community.
On Friday morning, Kaine will make a stop in Hinton to host a roundtable discussion with poultry growers on agricultural policies before visiting Berryville in the afternoon to discuss the importance of strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education with Clark County High School students and teachers. Kaine will conclude his five-day tour of the Commonwealth with a retail walk in Leesburg where he will learn about economic development in the Catoctin Crescent.
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