Sen. Kaine Backs Expansion of Arlington Cemetery

Sen. Tim Kaine expressed support Tuesday for expansion of Arlington Cemetery.

“Thank you Madam Chairwoman, and just briefly – one provision in the package before us that I want to draw attention to and also provide some thanks for is this provision dealing with Arlington National Cemetery. There has been a longstanding desire to expand the cemetery so that it can be, for generations to come, the place that it is now and offering that opportunity to those who have served and lost their lives, but the physical space limitations have been significant and there has been work underway between the Secretary of the Army, other Pentagon officials, Arlington County where the cemetery is located, the Commonwealth of Virginia to try to do a complicated land swap.

“This particular mark in the Readiness Subcommittee kind of represents the fruits of that long negotiation, and a lot of folks were involved – staffers on this committee and at the Pentagon, officials with the local and state government – to try and do what is right, to expand the cemetery, and I’m glad that negotiation is now done, and this mark accomplishes that end, and that’s a very positive thing. All the comments that each of you made, I share, but I did at least want to mention that because it’s such an important item, and I’m glad we’ve reached the end of the negotiation and the matter is now included in this package.”