Clinton, Slaughter Announce Final Congressional Approval of Amendment to Support Niagara Air Reserve Base

Legislation Ensures Long Term Future of Niagara Air Reserve Base; The Bill Will Now Go to the President for His Signature

December 14, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter today announced final congressional approval of their measure requiring the Secretary of the Air Force to develop a long range plan for the Niagara Air Reserve Base while beginning to work on important new initiatives there.

Article continues below...

The measure, approved as part of the FY 2008 Department of Defense Authorization Act, was introduced by Rep. Slaughter in the House, and Senator Clinton in the Senate and requires the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a detailed assessment of the current aviation assets as well as a plan for future allocation of assets to House and Senate Defense Committees by March 1, 2008.

The bill, having been approved by both chambers of Congress, will now be sent to the President for his signature.

“In 2005, following the BRAC Commission’s decision to keep open the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base, I pledged to continue to fight for the Niagara installation and to do whatever I could to ensure its long term future,” said Senator Clinton. “The mission profile for units based at Niagara Falls is critical for future planning, and this provision will require the Air Force to submit a report on the current and future aviation asset plan for basing at the station. Today’s announcement is a critical step in ensuring the long term future of the Niagara Air Reserve Base and its valuable relationship with the local community.”

“I am pleased that my original amendment holding the Air Force accountable for developing a long-term plan for the Base is included in the Conference Report,” said Rep. Slaughter. “This important language takes us a step closer in ensuring that the Base remains an integral part of our community, thereby preserving jobs and fostering economic growth. Moreover, it better protects the future fate of the Base as an integral part of Western New York and our nation’s homeland security.”

In 2005, Senator Clinton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, along with Senator Schumer, and Representatives Slaughter and Reynolds, played key roles along with the Niagara Military Affairs Council (NIMAC), in removing the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station from the list of recommended base closures put forth by the Department of Defense (DOD) as part of the BRAC Commission.

Senator Clinton recently joined with Senator Charles E. Schumer to announce that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Fiscal Year 2008 Veterans Affairs and Military Construction Appropriations bill, which includes $27 million in military construction funding for an Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC) at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

When the BRAC Commission decided to associate the 914th Air Wing and the 107th Refueling Wing, and remove the 107th's eight bombers by the end of this calendar year, Congresswoman Slaughter committed to working with the Air Force to find additional aircraft to send to Niagara. Congresswoman Slaughter fought tirelessly to ensure that her provision requiring the Secretary of the Air Force to develop a long-term plan for assets at Niagara was included in the House Defense Authorization bill, which passed Wednesday 370 – 49.

Source: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton