FEINGOLD,
KOHL, BALDWIN GO TO BAT FOR SAUK COUNTY JOBS
Wisconsin Members of Congress Oppose Funding Cut for Badger Ammunition
That Will Leave At Least 45 Percent of Plant’s Workforce Jobless
February 1, 2008
Washington, D.C. –
U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl and U.S. Representative Tammy
Baldwin are urging the U.S. Army to reverse its decision to cut funding
for the Badger Army Ammunition Plant. The Army recently decided to allocate
Badger Ammunition less than five percent of what it needs to carry out
its demolition, explosive safety, security and environmental compliance
duties, despite the Army’s obligation to fund the work of the
plant. The loss in funding has led to 45 percent of the plant’s
workforce being laid off. Additional layoffs, project delays, and increased
start-up and workforce retraining costs can be expected if the Army
does not provide funding. In a letter to the Secretary of the Army Peter
Geren, Feingold, Kohl, and Baldwin ask that the Army fulfill its obligation
to Badger Ammunition and restore funding immediately.
“I was very concerned
when I learned that members of the highly trained workforce at the Badger
Ammunition Plant would lose their jobs with little or no warning because
the Army has decided to withhold funds,” Feingold said. “The
Army’s decision to cut Badger’s funding comes at a tremendous
cost to the people of Sauk County.”
“Though the Army is
under a major financial burden these days, it still has a commitment
to clean up and restore the site of Badger Ammunition,” Kohl said.
“Because contaminants from the plant could pose long-standing
health and environmental risks for Sauk residents, this clean-up project
should continue moving forward.”
“It’s been 10
years since the Army declared this excess property. The Army has a legal
and moral obligation to complete the clean-up so that the reuse plan
is implemented without further delay. I urge the Secretary to reconsider
this decision,” said Congresswoman Baldwin.
The lead contractor at Badger
Ammunition recently announced it would lay off 46 full-time employees
starting February 1st. Sixteen full-time employees were laid off in
January. Those whose jobs are in jeopardy are working to restore Badger
Ammunition’s Baraboo property so it can be transferred from the
military to local, state, tribal, and other entities that have coalesced
around a shared vision to maintain Badger’s natural and cultural
features. Prior to the Army’s announcement that it was cutting
fiscal year 2008 funds, the project was on track to be transferred by
early 2011.
A copy of the letter is available
here.
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