Hoyer Joins Team Maryland for "We're All In: Bringing the FBI to Prince George's County" Press Conference
COLLEGE PARK, MD –Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) joined Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, Governor Martin O'Malley, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator Ben Cardin, Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards, Maryland State Senator Doug Peters, Maryland State Delegate Jolene Ivey, and Prince George's County Council Chairman Mel Franklin to promote Prince George's County as the right choice for relocating the new, consolidated Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters.The new FBI headquarters will be home to 11,000 jobs and is estimated to be a $2 billion economic development project.
Officials highlighted that Prince George's County, Maryland is the best site for the relocation of the FBI due to the County's close proximity to Washington, efficient transportation options, competitive land and lease pricing, considerable federal assets, and world-class academic institutions.
The FBI has identified cyber security as a top priority and its agents would benefit from the unprecedented growth of the cyber security field in Maryland. Maryland is home to numerous cyber security, defense, intelligence, and law enforcement facilities, including Fort Meade, home to U.S. Cyber Command and National Security Agency; Joint Base Andrews; National Institute of Standards and Technology; National Cyber Security Center of Excellence; Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center; Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers; and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab.
Prince Georges County offers a highly educated workforce as well as the resources of the University of Maryland College Park, Bowie State University, University of Maryland University College and Prince George's Community College. The County also has a robust transportation infrastructure with access to Interstate 95, the Capital Beltway/495, U.S. Route 50, Joint Base Andrews, Reagan National Airport, BWI Airport, Metro, County Transit Bus lines, MARC Commuter Rail System, Amtrak, and the proposed Purple Line that will connect New Carrollton to Silver Spring.
Prince George's County is home to a quarter of the region's federal workforce, but the County only accounts for 4% of federal leased office space in the National Capital Region. Virginia, on the other hand, has 36% of the leased space. Additionally, half of leased space in Prince George's is warehouse space while warehouse space in other counties accounts for 15% or less. Siting the FBI in Prince George's County would improve equitable distribution of federal office leasing space.
"I was pleased to join members of the Maryland Congressional delegation, Governor O'Malley, County Executive Baker, and others today to declare that the state of Maryland is fully behind Prince George's County as the next home of the FBI headquarters," stated Congressman Hoyer. "With close proximity to Washington, efficient transit connections, world-class institutions of research and higher education, and great neighborhoods, Prince George's County is the right choice for the FBI's new, consolidated headquarters. The FBI would also benefit from premier cyber security and defense facilities located in and near the County. While we face strong competition, an honest assessment of cost, convenience, security, and transportation options shows Prince George's County is the best choice for the FBI, for the American taxpayers, and for the region. I will continue to work with my colleagues at the federal, state, and local level to make the strongest case possible for bringing the FBI to Prince George's County and ensuring this is a fair process."
"Competition for the new FBI headquarters amongst our neighbors and friends will be fierce," said Prince George's County Executive Baker. "However, it is clear that the best deal for the U.S. taxpayers, the best choice for smart regional growth, and the best decision to mitigate regional traffic congestion is for the GSA to locate the new FBI Headquarters in Prince George's County. I am proud that Prince George's County has the support of the entire State leadership for this effort and that we are all in and determined to succeed. I am confident that this County will soon be known as Home to the FBI."
"With proximity to multiple transit options, federal assets like CyberCommand and research institutions like the University of Maryland, Greenbelt offer a phenomenal strategic advantage for the FBI consolidated headquarters," said Governor O'Malley. "Our commitment to strengthening and growing the middle class has never been stronger. We'll continue working with our partners in Prince George's County and in Congress to bring this federal asset to Maryland – there's no better place in the United States."
"Prince George's County is creating new opportunities every day and, with growing neighborhoods and a strong workforce, this is the right place for the new FBI headquarters," said Lt. Governor Brown. "By working together with our partners at the federal, state and county level, we've made major investments in our schools, our transportation infrastructure and our communities - now we must work to deliver this important economic development project to Prince George's."
"FBI needs a fully consolidated central headquarters that will allow it to fulfill it modern mission, with facilities that are safe, secure, and suited to its needs," said Senator Mikulski. "When you consider the cost of operations, security needs, convenience of location for staff, and transportation options, the right choice is Prince George's County. And by bringing the FBI to Maryland, we would be bringing thousands of jobs and thousands of economic opportunities to communities throughout Prince George's County. It's a win-win, making the country safer and Maryland's economy stronger."
"Every day we allow the FBI to remain fractured among dozens of locations throughout the National Capital Region, we are wasting time and resources that could be better used keeping this country and the American public safe from harm. Prince George's County is the only jurisdiction that can fulfill all of the requirements requested by the FBI. Choosing Maryland also is the right thing for the men and women who work for the FBI and their families," said Senator Cardin. "For more than a year, Team Maryland has been united in our efforts to bring the new, consolidated FBI to Prince George's County. We started early in the process and we haven't let up anywhere along the way."
"Prince George's County is an embarrassment of development riches," said Congresswoman Edwards. "The County is without question the logical location to consolidate the FBI headquarters at one location. Prince George's County offers land, close proximity to multiple Metro stops, Joint Base Andrews, Fort Meade, academic institutions, airports, and downtown Washington D.C., while providing the most affordable option to taxpayers. A fair, transparent, and competitive process makes Prince George's County the obvious choice. I will continue working with my colleagues who are united at the federal, state, and local levels to make that case."
"The Prince George's Senate Delegation stands ready to facilitate obtaining state funding to provide the infrastructure necessary to move forward on this project. This project will provide the kind of economic development we need in Prince George's County," said State Senator Peters
"Having the FBI in Prince George's County will reduce traffic for the entire region, and bring a small amount of equity in siting federal facilities in the DC region," said Delegate Ivey. "A new FBI Headquarters in Prince George's County would impact our local economy in unprecedented ways and provide job and educational opportunities for our residents, businesses, and students for generations to come. The Prince George's County House Delegation is committed to assisting the effort to attract the FBI to the State and County."
"It is truly exciting to see that leaders from across the County and the State are united behind bringing the FBI headquarters to Prince George's County," said County Council Chairman Franklin. "Winning the competition for the FBI headquarters would be a giant step forward in our efforts to bring the world to Prince George's County."