Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator for New York

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Gillibrand Secures Key Senate Committee Approval for an Army Reserve Installation at Fort Wadsworth

As A Member Of The Senate Armed Services Committee, Gillibrand Successfully Pushed For Upgrades to Fort Wadsworth New Center Would Benefit Reservist Retention, Create 190 Construction Jobs

June 15, 2011

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that a key Senate Panel has fully authorized $18.55 million for Staten Island Army Reserve Center at Fort Wadsworth. The project would upgrade the three-building complex, improving training, boosting military recruitment, and lessening the travel burden on New York reservists.

“This is great news for Staten Island,” Senator Gillibrand said.  “Building the Army Reserve Center right here at Fort Wadsworth would boost Army recruitment and training, allowing hundreds of New York City residents the opportunity to serve their nation while preparing close to home.  I will continue to work to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the tools and resources they need to protect our country.”

Fort Wadsworth is one of several reserve centers across the country that will be built or improved.  Upgraded facilities would include offices, a training center, drill hall, gym, arms vault, a storage facility and a vehicle repair shop and garage.  In addition to enhancing recruitment, training, and retention of the Army Reserves, the construction and upgrading of the facilities will create 190 jobs. 

Federal defense spending must be authorized before money can be appropriated. Now that the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support has concluded its meeting, the military construction budget must be approved by the full committee as it considers the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill will then be sent to the full Senate for passage, then to Conference with the House, after which it will go to the President for signature. 

This past January, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), along with Staten Island officials, successfully worked to keep the Army Reserve Center on Staten Island and prevented the facility from being built in New Jersey.

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