The Fight to Save Niagara Falls Air Base
By Thomas M. Reynolds
U.S. Representative, NY-26

As you read this, members of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) have left Western New York after touring and attending a public hearing on the fate of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.  They must decide whether to accept or reject the Air Force's recommendation to close the base, and I believe we are making a strong case that Niagara remain open and in service to our nation.

Even before we hosted the BRAC commission, I conferred with both with Lieut. General John Bradley, Chief of the Air Force Reserves, and Anthony Principi, Chairman of the BRAC Commission, regarding flaws in the Air Force's decision-making process.  I have also met repeatedly with key staff from the BRAC Commission, including Senior Air Force Analysts, personally studied Air Force data, both classified and unclassified, and pressed the Department of Defense to make certain we are getting the data we need to help us prove that the base should remain open.

The community and our Congressional delegation have come together, united and resolute in our efforts to keep the base open.  From Governor Pataki to our Congressional delegation to state and local legislators, civic leaders and the community as a whole, we have been working together to make our case for Niagara.  And that case is getting stronger.

First, the Air Force itself has already recognized the high military value of the base.  My staff uncovered documents showing that as recently as last December, Air Force officials recommended not only keeping Niagara Falls open, but doubling the number of C-130s and KC-135s stationed there.  Yet, in about 30 days, Niagara went from a base which the Air Force said it needed to expand in size due to its "high military value," to complete closure.  This simply does not make any sense - and the BRAC commission was made well aware of this.

Our argument also cited Air Force data showing that our base is more operationally capable, cost-effective and combat proven than many of the C-130 and KC-135 bases that are slated to be retained; that Niagara also has the highest retention rate of all Air Force Reserve Command units for the past two years; and that it is the primary recruitment station for Western New York, consistently exceeding recruitment goals.

Furthermore, over the past ten years, the base has received over $35 million in improvements; and remains one of the most cost-efficient bases in the military.  It is essential to our national defense and our homeland security, vital to missions throughout the Northeast and overseas.  Without the base, a large portion of our northern border would be unprotected; and leaving our northern border unprotected would leave a serious and dangerous gap in the security of our homeland.

And, as the second largest employer in Niagara County, with an economic impact of over $150 million every year, the base is just as important to our community.

I believe Monday was a success, and that the BRAC Commission now has a much better understanding of how important the base is to our community, and the devastating impact its closure would have.  It was an important step in making our case.  But this fight is not over- and we still need your help.

A massive letter-writing campaign is continuing to show how much the base means to Western New York.  You can join in the effort by writing a letter addressed to the BRAC Commission in Washington D.C.  All letters should be mailed to NIMAC - the Niagara Military Affairs Council - at P.O. Box 231, Niagara Falls, New York, 14304.  You can also visit them on the web at nimac.org.  I hope that everyone will take just a few minutes to help this important cause.

As a former member of the 107th Air Refueling Wing, I am especially proud of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, and the brave men and women who are stationed there.  They are among the best-trained, best-equipped in the Air Force.  And we need to work together, fighting hard to keep them stationed here, where they ought to be, defending our freedom and protecting our homeland as a part of our Western New York community.