Congressman Thomas M. Reynolds - Produly serving New York's 26th District

Reynolds Hails President's Endorsement of BRAC Decisions

U.S. Representative Thomas M. Reynolds, R- Clarence, today hailed the President's decision to endorse the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's (BRAC) final decisions.  The BRAC Commission's final report was delivered to the President last week, ending a nearly four-month review of the Pentagon's base-closure recommendations.

This is tremendous news for our base and our community.  With his endorsement, the President clearly recognized that the final BRAC decisions were both well-informed and important to the defense of our nation," Reynolds said.  "I would like to thank the President as well as each and every member of the BRAC Commission; they were tasked with an important and demanding assignment, and their hard work has helped make our country safer and more secure."

Reynolds spearheaded Congressional efforts on behalf of the air base, including leading a last minute bid to save the 107th Air National Guard, which was still going to be eliminated even after it had become clear that the 914th Airlift Wing was likely to remain intact.

"Keeping Niagara open was the right decision for our community and for the American people," Reynolds said.  "I'm happy to have been part of the team that saved Niagara and the almost 3,000 jobs at the base."

Reynolds said that the final BRAC report echoed many of the arguments local supporters made on behalf of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, which the Pentagon had slated for closure.

"The BRAC Commission found that the Pentagon overestimated savings by $30 million," Reynolds said.  "As we proved, closing Niagara Falls would have cost more money than it would have saved, and this final report is proof that we were right on target."

Among its decisions, the Commission voted to retain all personnel and equipment from the 914th Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve), including the eight C-130s currently stationed at the base.  All personnel from the 107th Air Refueling Wing (Air National Guard) will be retained as an Associate Wing.  The guard's current fleet of KC-135 tanker planes will be moved to Bangor, Maine, but that move is not expected for several years.

"Of all the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve bases originally recommended for closure, Niagara is the only base that will remain operational," Reynolds said.  "When the BRAC Commission examined the facts, they realized what we have been saying all along- the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is too valuable to our efforts in the War on Terror, too valuable to our national security, and too valuable to our community, to face closure.  And I'm thrilled that the President agreed with their findings."