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November 19, 2009

Owens gets committee assignments

By JOE LoTEMPLIO

PLATTSBURGH — New Congressman William Owens has been named to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Homeland Security.

The two posts are key for Owens, whose 23rd District includes Fort Drum, a major Army post near Watertown in the western part of the district, and a massive stretch of border between the United States and Canada.

Owens said he will do everything in his power to maintain and strengthen Fort Drum.

"As a member of Congress and as a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will fight tirelessly for the base, the surrounding community and for our entire district, all of whom benefit from Fort Drum's presence," Owens said Thursday.

"Obviously, Fort Drum is very important for our security and for the economy of the Watertown area."

The Armed Services Committee is responsible for funding and oversight over the Department of Defense, as well as various branches of the military.

The committee is also responsible for funding military installations.

Former Congressman John McHugh was the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee when he was chosen by President Barack Obama to become the new secretary of the Army on June 2.

RECOUNT STILL ON
McHugh was confirmed by the Senate in early September, setting up a special election for his 23rd District seat.

Owens, an attorney and a Democrat from Plattsburgh, won that election Nov. 3, defeating Conservative Party candidate Douglas Hoffman, an accounting-firm owner from Lake Placid.

Republican Dierdre "Dede" Scozzafava dropped out of the race three days before the election after lagging in the polls.

She eventually endorsed Owens.

Hoffman conceded the race on Election Night after seemingly being down by about 5,000 votes, but he has rescinded that concession since, as absentee-ballot-counting has narrowed the gap to below 3,000 votes. Odds remain long that Hoffman can win the race.

Owens was sworn into Congress on Nov. 6, three days after the election.

SECURITY issues
In addition to the Armed Services panel, Owens landed on the House Committee on Homeland Security.

The committee addresses issues on border and port security, emergency preparedness and infrastructure protection.

Owens said that with about 2,000 trucks per day crossing the border, commerce is vital to the area.

"I think this assignment is a big one for our district because the border affects so much up here. Not only here (Champlain), we have ports in Massena and Oswego that are very important, and there are many areas affected by this."

Owens said communication with border posts and the local communities is key to not only ensuring that commerce keeps moving but that security is maintained as well.

"I will be as active as I need to be when asked by the local folks if there is a problem, and I will be on the phone talking about what the issue is," Owens said.

"But we've had good communication between the borders and local people."

Homeland Security maintains a presence on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base, and Owens said he will be on the lookout for further use of the flight line if it is feasible.

"That's always in play, and if the opportunity comes up, we will push it," he said.

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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