Harrisburg Patriot-News
A proposal to expand and strengthen the mission of the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has drawn bipartisan support in Pennsylvania.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., on Thursday introduced a Joint Military Heritage Preservation Act that calls for a Defense Department study of the feasibility of bringing part of the Navy’s historical collection to the center outside Carlisle.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., co-signed the bill and U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa. is expected to bring a similar bill to the House.
Toomey aims to solve a problem with inadequate facilities at the Naval History and Heritage Command facilities in Washington, D.C. At the same time, he hopes that housing Navy artifacts at the 55-acre center off Interstate 81 in Middlesex Township would enhance its standing in government funding discussions.
The center, funded by private donations and federal, state, county and local government grants, drew an estimated 127,000 visitors last year.
Read more: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/11/us_sen_pat_toomey_of_pennsylva.html