[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 103 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1272-E1273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        OFFUTT APPRECIATION DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JON CHRISTENSEN

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 12, 1996

  Mr. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Offutt 
Appreciation Day. In my district in Nebraska, Offutt Air Force Base is 
the home of more than 10,000 military personnel and their 17,000 family 
members, employs more than 1,500 civilians, is a valued part of the 
Omaha/Bellevue area community and plays a vital part in our global 
military strategy.
  In Congress, I have shown my appreciation for the families of the 
Offutt community by fighting for funding for Impact aid, the program 
which compensates public school districts for revenue lost due to the 
presence of military bases like Offutt. Although Impact Aid was almost 
zeroed out during last year's budget battle, we were eventually able to 
fund the program at 100 percent of the total for fiscal year

[[Page E1273]]

1995, providing approximately $7 million to the Bellevue Public Schools 
and about $510,000 to the Papillion School District. I'm pleased to 
note that this year the Labor-HHS appropriations bill increased funding 
for Impact Aid by $35 million. I fought hard to make sure this funding 
was included in the bill because I care deeply about the Offutt 
community. I want to ensure that the children of military families 
receive a quality education.
  In honor of Offutt Appreciation Day, most of the townships and cities 
surrounding Offutt have passed proclamations recognizing this event. I 
am pleased to include the text of one of these proclamations by Robert 
Eccles, mayor of Ralston:

                              Proclamation

       Whereas, Offutt Air Force Base's families are a valued 
     segment of the City of Ralston and other communities in 
     Nebraska where everyone works as neighbors to ensure that 
     Nebraska continues to be ``where the good life began'', and
       Whereas, personnel stationed at Offutt Air Force Base and 
     their families continually dedicate their lives to guarantee 
     our freedom and defend this great nation,
       Now, therefore, be it Resolved that I, Robert J. Eccles, 
     Mayor of the City of Ralston, join with the Offutt Advisory 
     Council, the Air Force Association, and the Bellevue Chamber 
     of Commerce in saying thank you and do hereby designate July 
     12, 1996 as Offutt Appreciation Day in the City of Ralston 
     and urge all citizens to join with me on this day in saluting 
     the members of Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
       In Witness whereof, I have set my hand and caused the 
     Official Seal of the City of Ralston to be affixed this last 
     day of July 1996. Robert J. Eccles, Mayor.

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