Boback and Committee Review Military-Related Programs

Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, on Wednesday led an informational meeting to review three programs over which the committee has oversight.

“These commissions and institutions perform excellent work on programs and policy matters concerning our military and veteran community across Pennsylvania,” said Boback. “We value their contributions to the Commonwealth and strive to remain good stewards of these valuable programs by highlighting their many accomplishments.”

The programs include the Pennsylvania Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), which supports military-connected children.

“We work to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents,” explained Barbara Clemmer, MIC3 commissioner.

Officials from the Keystone State Challenge Academy (KSCA) updated committee members on plans to accept its first class of cadets this summer at Fort Indiantown Gap. KSCA is one of 40 academies operated by the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, which is designed to guide at-risk teenagers in furthering their education and setting a path to a brighter future.

“The KSCA is currently preparing facilities, hiring staff, and acquiring equipment and supplies to start the residential phase in July,” said Stephen Radulski, KSCA director. “The initial goal is a total of 200 graduates during our first year.”

Finally, the Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement Commission (PMCEC) works to support and enhance the military value of a military installation in an effort to prevent its closure. Currently, there are 12 major military bases in the Commonwealth, which employ more than 57,000 people.

“To counteract a potential Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), we must be forever vigilant and make sure we are doing our utmost to not only preserve our military installations, but to modernize them and to bring in new business,” PMCEC Executive Director Nancy Lescavage told committee members.

A video recording of the hearing is available for viewing at www.RepBoback.com/video.