Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, June 12, 1998

с 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 NEWS ADVISORY: June 12, 1998 CONTACT: Richard Cross 202-225-3061 EHRLICH REACTS TO REORGANIZATION PLAN WHICH COULD COST THOUSANDS OFAPG JOBS Congressman Robert Ehrlich, along with other members of Maryland’s congressional delegation, is vowing to fight a proposed reorganization plan which could ultimately lead to a loss of thousands of jobs at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Currently, responsibility for operational testing and evaluation of weapons for the Army rests with the Operational Testing and Evaluation Command (OPTEC), headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. Developmental testing activities are performed by the Aberdeen Test Center’s Testing and Evaluation Command (ТЕСОМ), headquartered at APG. Under the Army’s plan, command over both activities would be consolidated at the Alexandria location. Though no immediate job losses are expected, there are indications that Aberdeen, because of its resulting loss of military clout, will gradually lose its testing activities to existing or planned facilities in Utah and New Mexico. These reductions in responsibility, once fully realized, could lead to significant reductions in Aberdeen’s workforce. “I am deeply concerned about how this proposed reorganization will impact the working men and women of Aberdeen Proving Ground,” Congressman Ehrlich stated. “ТЕСОМ fulfills a vital mission for the United States Army. It does so in an efficient, cost-effective manner. I will fight any attempt by the Department of Defense to tamper with Aberdeen’s jurisdiction over