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Sep 7, 2007

The Morning Times - Congressman to go on active duty Monday

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In what is a very unique situation Congressman Christopher Carney, D-Dimock, won't be in Washington D.C. for the next couple of weeks after being called to report for active duty with the U.S. Navy Reserves.

The representative for the 10th Congressional District for Pennsylvania - which includes Bradford County - is a Lt. Commander in the Navy Reserves. He will report for duty Monday at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Carney participates in active duty for two weeks each year and attends drills at the Pentagon each month.

For the next two weeks, while in uniform, Carney will not be permitted to discuss political issues, a different situation for a man who has spent the last year talking politics.

But Carney understands the rule.

“When it comes to National Security, the best politics is no politics,” he said via a press release. “Serving my nation is something I take very seriously. I will continue to serve two weeks of active duty.”

Carney's offices will be open while he is on duty.

His Chief of Staff April Metwalli will oversee the Washington office and his District Director Paul Macknosky will oversee the Clarks Summit, Williamsport and Shamokin offices.

Lt. Commander Carney will be working on the Predator UAV Program. Previously, he was called up for service as a counter-terrorism expert at the Pentagon following the September 11th attacks. He continued counter-terrorism work as a Senior Advisor and Special Advisor from 2003 to 2005. In 2006, he was elected to Congress from the 10th District of Pennsylvania and pledged to continue his reserve duty while serving as a Member of Congress.

Carney is not the only congressman who reports for reserve duty, but he is one of at least two.

According to Carney's office, Congressman Mark Kirk, a Republican from Illinois, also reports for two weeks of active duty as a Reservist while serving as a member of Congress.

“It's unfortunate but a consequence of the generational challenges our nation is facing is that we've lost a lot of congressmen with military experience. Lt. Commander Carney made a tough but admirable decision to continue with his Reserve duty when elected to Congress,” said Brigadier General (Sel) Larry Grundhauser, the Vice Director for Intelligence on the Joint Staff, who previously served as Wing Commander for Carney's unit. “A member of congress who wears the uniform is truly a valuable service, both for the national security of our country and for the decision making ability of congress. Lt. Commander Carney has a well respected background in counter-terrorism, intelligence and national security matters. He will be spending his two weeks on active duty performing real world combat operations, using the most sophisticated, satellite-based reconnaissance systems to provide commanders and deployed warfighters actionable intelligence about our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan as an integral part of our war on terror.”