Naval Station Everett Sailors and civilians met with Congressman Rick Larsen, of Washington State’s 2nd district, and Congressman Gene Taylor, of Mississippi’s 4th district, during a tour of the station March 18.

Larsen invited Taylor to tour the station because of their positions on the House Armed Services Committee, as well as the Sea Power and Expeditionary Forces Sub-Committee, of which Taylor sits on as Chairman. The responsibility of this Committee is to provide funding and oversight to the Department of Defense.

“We are on a sub-committee of the congress that has oversight for the Navy and the Marine Corps,” said Taylor. “We get more requests for funding from different installations than there is funding available. So, it’s a way of taking a look at the installation, and trying to prioritize the Navy’s needs, and above all the needs of the Sailors.”

After meeting several Sailors from Taylor’s district in Mississippi, the Representatives were given an in-depth tour of the Commons, the piers, and the construction site of a $62 million enlisted bachelor barracks, which is set to open next February.

“Naval Station Everett is a beautiful installation,” said Taylor. “I got to meet a few Sailors from Mississippi this morning, and about 5 yesterday and they were all apparently very happy to be stationed here, and that is always good news to hear.”

“Bringing these gentlemen on board gives them the deck plate level of what happens on a Naval Station,” said NAVSTA Everett Command Master Chief Greg Hixson. “It also introduces them to the Naval Station; a lot of them don’t get the chance to come out here, to see what it is exactly that the Navy is doing with the money that we are given as well as the support of the Sailors.”

During the tour through the barracks and on the piers, NAVSTA personnel provided answers to the barrage of questions coming from the Representatives. Everything from the cement mixers used to build the barracks, to issues of security and logistics pier side.

“It’s always good to have a member of congress visit,” said Commanding Officer, NAVSTA Everett Commanding Officer Capt. Thomas Mascolo. “It’s nice when your own congressman comes, but to have the chairman of a sub-committee… Almost every good leader wants to put their own eyes on the target at some point, and that’s what he’s doing.”