Published March 1985 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Competing For Defense Dollars West Virginia businesses produce hundreds of top-quality products each year that could be used in our national defense effort, everything from rubber rafts and canvas sacks to sophisticated electronics gear. A needed approach is to match our West Virginia sellers with Defense Department buyers, a feat not always easy for those confronted with the often confusing network of offices to contact and forms to complete. West Virginia businesses interested in selling to the Department of Defense and some of its largest defense contracting companies can get information helpful to them as defense suppliers by attending the Defense Trade Fair I am sponsoring in Charleston on April 4. This trade fair, which will begin at 9 a.m. at the University of Charleston, will feature presentations by top Defense Department officials, as well as by representatives from some of the nation's largest defense contractors, such as Lockheed, Boeing, Northrop, Westinghouse, and Rockwell International. This will be the fourth defense trade fair that I have hosted for West Virginians as part of my effort to bring more defense dollars into our state. The Pentagon buys tens of billions of dollars in goods from our country's businesses every year, but, unfortunately, West Virginia's share of that business has been low. I believe that West Virginia's share of Pentagon business can be increased. One thing that might enable West Virginians to participate in more defense contracts is the establishment of a West Virginia chapter of the American Defense Preparedness Association (ADP A), a nationwide group that shares information on defense issues and defense contracts. During this Defense Trade Fair, I will be sponsoring the organizational meeting for a West Virginia ADPA chapter, and I will be encouraging our businesses to get involved in the group. West Virginia businesses can play a bigger role in our national defense efforts, and I hope that my upcoming Defense Trade Fair and my other defense related activities will help broaden West Virginia's defense industrial base and draw more Pentagon dollars into our state. March 20, 1985