National Defense Authorization Act of 2009

Every year, Congress passes a National Defense Authorization Act to provide the Department of Defense a general blueprint for its activities. Among other things, it establishes limits on how many new aircraft, naval vessels and tanks our nation should produce. It also provides our troops with good pay, benefits, and housing. Like most members of Congress, I make requests to the House Armed Services Committee (which writes this legislation) to ensure our state and the interests of the people of Colorado’s 7th Congressional District are represented in this important bill.

My office received the following project requests for the National Defense Authorization of 2009. (In alphabetical order by recipient)

Recipient: Buckley Air Force Base
Address: 18848 E Crested Butte Ave, Buckley AFB, CO 80011
Amount requested: $9,900,000
Project description: Land acquisition

Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado is surrounded by a growing community. To ensure mission capabilities and safety, Buckley Air Force Base would like to acquire roughly 122 acres of land immediately adjacent to the base to permanently protect the clear zone and eliminate any potential hazards to the flying mission. Colorado Air National Guard officials state the purchase of this land is critical to the safety of its flying missions. Acquisition of another parcel will allow for a 400 ft. extension of an existing runway and reduce the potential risk of terrorist activity against taxiing aircraft.

As development continues in the surrounding community, pilots at Buckley face a more difficult task of successful take off and landing. Providing funds for land acquisition will better protect our pilots and better enable Buckley to meet its responsibilities.

Recipient: Colorado Air National Guard
Address: 18848 E Crested Butte Ave, Buckley AFB, CO 80011
Amount Requested: $4,500,000
Project description: Weapons release complex upgrades

The purpose of this request is to secure funding for Buckley Air Force Base and the 140th Fighter Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard to expand its weapons release complex. A weapons release complex is a facility in which munitions and ordinances are maintained. The existing facility is undersized, and National Guard officials worry it is becoming a hazardous environment for them to meet mission requirements and cannot provide adequate training to maintenance personnel.

The Colorado Air National Guard has world class pilots and technicians. The federal government should provide these brave servicemen and women with the infrastructure on base for them to successfully meet their mission objectives prior to overseas deployment.

Recipient: Colorado Army National Guard
Address: 6848 S. Revere Parkway, Centennial, CO 80112
Amount requested: $3,569,000
Project description: Construction of a parachute facility
Colorado Army National Guard elements of the 19th Special Forces battalion train for airborne missions at Front Range Airport in Watkins, CO. Currently the parachutes are dried by hanging from the roof and laying them on the nearby parking lot. They are later shipped out of state to be cleaned and processed. National Guard officials have determined this is both highly expensive to maintain poses an unacceptable level of risk.

These highly trained soldiers deserve a facility in their own state for maintenance and cleaning of their life support system. No soldier should have to improvise the drying method of their most important piece of safety equipment.

Recipient: University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Address: 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. Colorado Springs, CO 80933
Amount requested: $3,000,000

Project description:
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs has developed a training program called Support Net with Fort Carson to treat the mental health providers who aid in the recovery of returning soldiers. Support Net provides critical professional clinical support for secondary trauma for the providers at Fort Carson and the local community who are working to help soldiers re-integrate back into life in the U.S.

Support Net will better transition returning veterans into life at home by teaching their behavioral health providers how to address vicarious trauma.