Press Release

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Senate Approval for $5.7 Million in Military Construction Funding for Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station

Nov 18, 2009

U.S.
Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that
the Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which includes $5.7 million in
military construction funding for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

Now
that the bill has been approved by the full Senate, it will go into
conference with the House version before going back to the Senate and
House and on to the President.

“This
is terrific news for the troops at the Niagara Air Reserve Base. With
this critical hurdle in the appropriations process cleared, we are that
much closer to ensuring that our troops have the best facilities and
latest equipment to help them protect themselves and our nation,” said
Senator Schumer. “I will keep fighting tooth and nail for increased
funding for Niagara Air Base, as this funding is vital to the base, to
the region and our national defense.”

“These
critical federal dollars will help to upgrade our military facilities
while creating good-paying jobs right here in New York,” said Senator
Gillibrand.  “Creating jobs in New York is my number one priority. 
This funding will strengthen our economic recovery efforts and ensure
our men and women in uniform have the very best facilities and
opportunities.  They and their families have sacrificed for all of us
and owe them for their incredible service.”

The
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is in need of a modern firing range
which would support the requirements of the Base wings, the units of
the new Armed Forces Regional Readiness Center, and Department of
Homeland Security tenants. The current number of firing line positions
is inadequate to satisfy the volume of monthly training requirements
which has grown with the addition of the Regional Readiness Center at
the Base. Furthermore, without an indoor firing range, personnel must
shoot at an off-base outdoor firing range. Due to the extreme weather
conditions in the Buffalo area, the Wing loses several months of
weapons qualifying each year.

The
funds will help construct a new Small Arms Range which will allow
personnel to satisfy mandatory weapons training as well as meeting
safety and environmental requirements. The construction of a firing
range to meet the military requirements would also serve as an asset
for additional Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tenants which
would offset the construction costs and reduce Base Operations Support
costs to the Department of Defense.