State Legislature Declares Support for Military Bases


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Ray Carter, House Media
Capitol: (405) 557-7421

Contact: State Rep. Mike Jackson
Capitol: (405) 557-7317
Enid: (580) 242-0069

State Legislature Declares Support for Military Bases

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 31) - Oklahoma lawmakers urged federal officials
Thursday to preserve all of Oklahoma military facilities, saying they
are vital to both national defense and Oklahoma's economic well-being.
House Concurrent Resolution 1008, by State Rep. Mike Jackson,
declares that the Oklahoma economy "benefits from the presence of
military installations," including Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma
City, Altus Air Force Base in Altus, Fort Sill Army Base in Lawton,
Vance Air Force Base in Enid, the Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester,
the Air National Guard Units in Oklahoma City and Tulsa and the Army
National Guard Unit at Camp Gruber.
"The resolution explains how important our military personnel
are to the state of Oklahoma and the $4 billion contribution they make
to the state economy," said Jackson, R-Enid.
Mike Cooper, chairman of the Oklahoma Strategic Military
Planning Commission, urged state lawmakers to fight to maintain
Oklahoma's bases, which could be closed as part of the ongoing federal
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.
"These are not just military installations," Cooper said. "The
bases are truly national treasures and the State of Oklahoma must show
it is willing to play a vital role, along with local communities, in
supporting bases."
Enid Mayor Ernie Currier noted that Vance "has been greatly
improved" through state and local efforts to preserve the facility's
viability.
The resolution declares that Oklahoma's military installations
"have established themselves" and being "vital to national defense"
during previous rounds of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
process.
The resolution notes that the military personnel stationed at
each Oklahoma installation "contribute significantly to the economy of
the affected communities, regions and the entire state."
According to records, the combined economic impact of Oklahoma's
military installations on the Oklahoma economy in 2002 was approximately
$4 billion.
The resolution concludes by urging the Base Realignment and
Closure Commission to "continue to recognize the vital role performed by
each one of the military installations located" in Oklahoma "with
respect to national defense and national security."
Copies of the resolution will be distributed to the Oklahoma
Strategic Military Planning Commission, the Oklahoma Military
Department, members of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation and to the
members of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
All members of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and
the Oklahoma Senate gave their support to the resolution.
In addition to receiving unanimous consent, HCR 1008 was
co-authored by numerous state lawmakers: Rep. Don Armes, R-Faxon; Rep.
Gary Banz, R-Midwest City; Rep. David Braddock, D-Altus; Rep. Kevin
Calvey, R-Del City; Rep. Bill Case, R-Midwest City; Rep. Ann Coody,
R-Lawton; Rep. Terry Harrison, D-McAlester; Rep. Mike Mass,
D-Hartshorne; Rep. Curt Roggow, R-Hillsdale; Rep. Mike Thompson,
R-Oklahoma City; Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City; Sen. Patrick
Anderson, R-Enid; Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton; Sen. Randy Bass,
D-Lawton; Sen. Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee; Sen. Robert Kerr, D-Altus;
Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond; Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-McAlester; Sen.
David Myers, R-Ponca City and Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Midwest City.
Members of the House can be reached at (405) 521-2711 and
members of the Senate can be reached at (405) 524-0126.

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