Washington, D.C. - Tomorrow U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen meets with a delegation including Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson and Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall to discuss the delegation’s meetings earlier that morning with civilian Pentagon officials on Naval Station Everett’s military value. Larsen will not attend the Pentagon meetings.

“It sends a strong signal of community support and military value when a community comes together to advocate for the local base directly to the Pentagon,” Larsen said. “I look forward to meeting with the local delegation tomorrow and to continuing my efforts to support our Washington state bases.”

Larsen helped arrange Pentagon meetings for Reardon, Stephanson and Kendall to speak with Pentagon officials in advance of the 2005 round of the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission. They will discuss a Community Assessment document of Naval Station Everett that was completed in January by Snohomish County, Everett and Marysville for the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, and the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission.

WHAT: Snohomish County, Everett, Marysville delegation meet with Larsen to discuss their just-finished meetings at the Pentagon regarding Naval Station Everett’s military value and the BRAC process

WHO: U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)
 Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon
 Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson
 Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall
Everett City Council representatives
Port of Everett representatives
Marysville Public Works Director Paul Roberts, also representing the Everett School Board
Everett Chamber of Commerce representatives
Everett Council Navy League President Doug Roulstone
Everett Governmental Affairs Director Pat McClain

WHEN: Tuesday, February 8, 2005

TIME: Tuesday, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST

WHERE: Larsen's office, 107 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

The Community Assessment addresses NS Everett’s military value based on the BRAC criteria.

At the Pentagon, the delegation will meet with two top officials:  Philip W. Grone, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment; and Wayne Arny, acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment.  Both officials will be deeply involved in the upcoming BRAC round, in which an estimated 25 percent of the United States’ military installations could be closed.

Also scheduled are meetings with U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, U.S. Senator Patty Murray; and staff of U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell.