Politics & Government
Gerry Connolly Attends DCCA Meeting
US Congressman, Gerry Connolly provides answers to Dale City Civic Association members.
Editor's note: Connie Moser is president of the Dale City Civic Association.
Last night’s DCCA meeting was lively and informative, thanks to our Congressional Representative, Gerry Connolly. The congressman recapped his dedication to the citizens of Prince William County and spoke on numerous timely issues.
Connolly addressed Base Realignment and Closure and the effects we will and are feeling with the largest military impact in the world at Belvoir and Quantico adding 24,000 new jobs to our area. The congressman remarked with some irony, “Any place else in the United States, the announcement of 24,000 jobs would be feted with champagne. Here, we meet that announcement with incredulity, as in: really?”
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Connolly also spoke about the attempt to approve the federal budget. He explained to DCCA the Ryan budget plan, described the adoption in the House and the defeat in the Senate. Connolly reasserted his commitment to Medicare by stating, “I will not support the end of Medicare.” While acknowledging the budget does require cuts and that debt is at an historic high, Connolly said we cannot just slash the budget and still remain competitive. He asserted that America is the only country in the world that does not have universal health care.
Connolly went on to cover another topic he’s recently been involved with: the opening of the Featherstone Wildlife Refuge. This huge, 325-acre tract will add much needed green space to the shortage of available parklands and the soon to be developed trail system will be a huge boon to all.
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A question and answer period followed the congressman’s remarks, with members inquiring about topics like the caused by the addition of 6,400 personnel at the Mark Center.
Another hot topic was transportation. Members wondered if the request by Sen. Toddy Puller, Del. Luke Torian and Del. Scott Surovell to add the extensions of the Blue line to Woodbridge and the Yellow line to Ft. Belvoir to Metro map helps keep hope alive that Metro will eventually find its way here where we desperately need it.
Connolly stressed the secret to managing congestion is choices. A combination of bus, rail, Metro and trail systems is the tool we need to deal with current and future traffic.