Report could speed up construction of training center in Va.

A soon-to-be released report may help Congress come to an agreement on the construction of a National Guard diplomatic training center at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Plans for this project began after an independent review panel recommended the construction of a single national diplomatic training center to replace the 11 separate sites currently in use. The State Department made a proposal for the construction which would cost $413 million. Construction was set to begin on August 1, but the project was put on hold as Congress decides on whether the Fort Pickett location is really the best option. Some members of Congress want to expand an existing facility in Brunswick, Georgia, which could cost as little as $272 million. Opponents point out that this does not include the cost of maintaining and operating the facility. The upcoming report from the General Accountability Office will focus on the value of sites of than the center in Georgia.