[Editor’s note] The following is the news release distributed by the office of Mayor Dean Jessup regarding potential DFAS job cuts.
In response to Representative André Carson’s remarks this afternoon before the House Armed Services Committee, Lawrence Mayor Dean Jessup released the following statement: “When rumors of a partial DFAS reorganization surfaced three weeks ago, I immediately contacted local members of our Congressional delegation to request their immediate action. Today’s remarks by Representative Carson and the release of a delegation letter are positive developments that I applaud, but a number of unanswered questions remain as to the Army’s future plans.
In Lawrence, we are blessed to have a Hoosier workforce that represents the best and brightest in the field, as well as a state-of-the-art DFAS facility in a class of its own. Later this year, we plan to cut the ribbon on an Armed Forces Reserve Center that will support more than 1,600 additional members of the armed services. Organizations such as the Indiana American Legion are moving their operations to Lawrence to take advantage of this new momentum.
My message to Congress has been very simple: I believe that any discussion about the future of DFAS in Lawrence should begin and end with how we bring more jobs from around the country to our growing military job center.”
