ROBB JOINS WARNER ON DEFENSE PANEL

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 8, 1993                   TAG: 9301080233
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
ROBB JOINS WARNER ON DEFENSE PANEL
U.S. Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., was named Thursday to the Senate Armed Services Committee, a move that could enhance Virginia's ability to maintain military facilities in light of defense budget cuts.
Robb's appointment gives Virginia two voices on the committee that recommends how defense money will be allocated. Sen. John Warner already is the second-ranking Republican on the committee.
"I'm delighted to get it," Robb said in a telephone interview Thursday night. "Obviously, there is a real concern in Virginia because we have more defense spending per capita than any other state. I don't want to look at it as solely preservation. I want to look at the needs of the entire country."
Among those needs is sound planning so communities can convert from a military to civilian economy, Robb said.
Warner said Robb's appointment makes the second time during his tenure that Virginia has had two members on Armed Services. Sen. Harry Byrd Jr. served with Warner on the committee.
"I'm very pleased," Warner said of Robb's appointment. "I've been encouraging him to do it for a long time. He'll bring a great deal of expertise to the committee."
Robb served in Vietnam as a Marine Corps captain.
Robb already is a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. He was named Monday as vice chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, the policy arm of Senate Democrats.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB