CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) A delegation of community and business leaders from Clarksville and Hopkinsville visited Washington D.C. Tuesday and Wednesday, February 27 & 28 on behalf of Fort Campbell to lobby for projects and services for the military.
Around 25 citizens were part of the group known as the Citizens for Fort Campbell. The group, many of them members of the Fort Campbell Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, make the trip each year.
The citizens meet with U.S. Senators and Representatives from Tennessee and Kentucky in Washington. Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Bob Corker and Congressman Marsha Blackburn, were just a few of the lawmakers that the group met with while in the nation’s capital.
Paul Turner, Military Affairs Chairman for the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce talked about some of the issues discussed during meetings. “We discussed Fort Campbell’s needs for an increase in their sustainment and restoration funding so they’re able to address the repair and maintenance needs for some of their facilities,” said Turner.
Turner added that replacing the older 1st Brigade Combat Team’s barracks complex on post was also talked about along with a proposed build out of the division headquarters to include a joint operations command center. Installation of a control access point at Sabre Army Heliport was also discussed.
The Army is not allowed to lobby for itself and the Citizens for Fort Campbell are not appointed lobbyists. The group is trying to show its support for the soldiers and their families as well as veterans in Montgomery and Christian Counties along with the surrounding communities