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First Congressional District of New Mexico
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ask.heather@mail.house.gov

In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax

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Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico


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DOMENICI & WILSON CONFIDENT OF FUTURE OF N.M. BASES October 14, 2003
 
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Pete Domenici and Congresswoman Heather Wilson today expressed confidence in the future of the New Mexico’s military installations in light of ongoing Pentagon plans to implement a base realignment and closure process in 2005. The New Mexico lawmakers assessed media reports that the Defense Department could recommend to Congress that nearly 25 percent of the current base structure be eliminated. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for the past several years has consistently stated that the nation is carrying about 25 percent too much base infrastructure with its more than 400 bases. Wilson and Domenici opposed establishing a new BRAC process, which Congress approved in 2001 despite stubborn opposition by both lawmakers. Wilson voted against the defense authorization legislation in 2001 because it included BRAC language. “The number of bases set for closure is less important than how our bases contribute to future national security needs and how they fit into plans for continued transformation of the armed services. I believe New Mexico installations score well on both. There is a timeline in process for the 2005 BRAC. The criteria for assessing military bases haven’t even been set yet, so any vulnerability assessment now is counterproductive and speculative,” said Domenici, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee. “My focus is on putting our bases in the strongest position possible as BRAC approaches. I will continue to work to make New Mexico a state that can accommodate additional joint missions in the areas of R&D;, testing and evaluation, and operational training.” “Kirtland Air Force Base and our other New Mexico installations are in a prime position to benefit from BRAC,” says Wilson, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “I think a strong case can be made that our state`s military facilities could take up the slack and absorb missions and personnel from bases the Commission decides to close. From the beginning, I have been critical of this BRAC effort. But I`m committed to working with Senator Domenici and others to position our bases so that we benefit from this process.” Domenici and Wilson say they look forward to working with the Governor`s BRAC committee, which Domenici believes “can play an important role in focusing on building grassroots support locally for our bases and their missions.” Wilson says she’ll meet with members of the committee next week in Washington to discuss her three-pronged approach to keeping New Mexico`s bases open. That approach includes: maintaining missions and strengthening base infrastructure; a strong grassroots marketing effort; and, establishing BRAC criteria that strengthens New Mexico`s position. Both Wilson and Domenici have secured sizable military construction appropriations funds to improve the state’s Air Force bases and White Sands Missile Range. The House version of the FY2004 Defense Authorization bill contains criteria that improve New Mexico`s ability to retain bases. Wilson, who participated in adding those provisions in the House Armed Services Committee, is working to keep the provisions as the bill is finalized in a conference committee. These provisions would set a minimum force structure below which the DOD could not cut, would require that the Pentagon keep enough “head room” to be able to expand in a crisis, and require the Pentagon to list at least half of U.S. bases that are mission-essential that will not be eligible for closure. Over the last five years, Wilson and Domenici have voted to secure scarce funding to keep Kirtland Air Force Base in good repair with more than $83 million in military construction projects in addition to $173 million in private funds for new housing.
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