Deluzio: Keeping our Navy reservists ready

We just notched a big bipartisan win in Washington that’s good news for our national security.

When I learned that the U.S. Senate snuck a provision into the National Defense Authorization Act to close more than 100 Navy Reserve Centers across the country — including one near the Pittsburgh International Airport and others in Harrisburg and Avoca, Pa. — I got to work.

I’m a Navy guy, so I know it’s important that regions like ours have these Navy Reserve Centers so that Navy reservists can keep their ties to the fleet if the country needs to mobilize them for active-duty service.

My team and I have been working for a while now to remove this boneheaded provision from the final compromise text of the legislation. We won that fight and saved our Navy Reserve Center from closure.

These are important facilities to support our Navy reservists, who stand at the ready to keep all of us safe. With these centers set to remain open, our country’s Navy Reserve will stay trained, supported and ready to do our country’s bidding — anytime, anywhere.

I’m a member of the House Armed Services committee, and I’ll never stop fighting for our service members, who make so many sacrifices to protect all of us.

As always: if I can help you or your family with any issues you’re having with a federal government agency, please let me know. I’ve got district offices in Carnegie, Center Township and Penn Hills, and my team stands ready to help. Give us a call at (412) 344-5583.