Press Releases

Senator Warner joined a bipartisan group of 11 senators today in a letter to new U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta calling for improvements to military base school facilities across the country. Many are old and in poor repair, and some have serious safety issues. 

The seriousness of this issue was recently highlighted in an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity published in Newsweek. The report describes failing infrastructure such as persistent leaks, corrosion, and mold, as well as overcrowding and a reliance on temporary facilities.

Virginia has five such schools: Ashurst Elementary and Burrows Elementary at Quantico Marine Base were rated "poor,” or “under-maintained.” Russell Elementary and Quantico Middle/High at Quantico and Dahlgren Elementary at the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren were deemed "failing,” or “should be considered for replacement.”

Letter to Secretary Panetta on DoD Schools