Clay, House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Schiff Tour Proposed Site of New National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Western HQ in North St. Louis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2016
MEDIA CONTACT:
STEVEN ENGELHARDT (314) 504-4029
ST. LOUIS, MO – Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri welcomed House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Congressman Adam Schiff (D) California to St. Louis on Monday as they received a classified briefing at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and then toured a proposed site in North St. Louis, which if selected, would become home to the NGA’s new $1.6 billion western headquarters. That decision is expected in late March.
“I was very pleased to welcome my friend and colleague, Congressman Adam Schiff (D) California, to St. Louis,” said Mr. Clay. “As the Ranking Member on the House Intelligence Committee, which has oversight of the NGA, I appreciated the opportunity to show him why the proposed Northside site is the right choice for NGA’s vital mission; the best choice for the 3100 talented employees who work there; the responsible choice for the taxpayers; and the greenest choice for protecting our environment.”
“I could not be more impressed with what I’ve seen,” said Mr. Schiff, as he toured to proposed NGA Northside site. “I think there is a compelling case here. To me, this looks like a quintessential example of what a Promise Zone is supposed to be about.”
To view video of Ranking Member Schiff’s comments, please go to:
https://www.facebook.com/109135405838588/videos/939768759441911/
Congressman Clay added. “As I have already indicated, Presidential Executive Order 12072 directs that wherever possible, federal dollars should be targeted to restore economic opportunity and vitally to distressed neighborhoods that have suffered from decades of disinvestment and concentrated poverty.”
The National Geospatial Agency (NGA) needs a new headquarters and must choose between North St. Louis and a site 35 miles outside of St. Louis. Executive Order 12072 requires that we give priority to urban areas when we move federal facilities. North St. Louis and North St. Louis County are in the federal Promise Zone. Locating NGA in the urban core will spur unprecedented private and public investment.