[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12596-S12597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL:
  S. 1552. A bill to provide for the conveyance of an unused Air Force 
housing facility in La Junta, Colorado, to the city of La Junta; to the 
Committee on Armed Services.


           the la junta air base land conveyance act of 1997

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, by way of legislation, I offer my 
support to the city of La Junta, Colorado, for its innovative and 
impressive response to the challenges facing the Lower Arkansas Valley. 
City officials have seized a unique opportunity to alleviate La Junta's 
housing crisis, expand the local Head Start program and increase access 
to child care, and solve Otero Junior College's dormitory problems.
  The city of La Junta, in conjunction with Otero Junior College, has 
proposed to take over the recently closed La Junta Air Base family 
housing site. Until one year ago, when it was farmed out to a civilian 
defense contractor, the Air Force's test range for its bomber pilots 
was housed in La Junta. Since then, several federal agencies have 
expressed interest in the site, but none has asserted their formal 
desire to reuse the facility.
  Further, taxpayers are spending nearly $100,000 annually to maintain 
an empty facility, while the city and residents of La Junta are losing 
out on a significant supplement to the local tax

[[Page S12597]]

base. The reuse plan I am endorsing provides for a self-sustaining and 
revenue generating housing and local services site, which is a well 
developed and cooperative solution to some very real local concerns.
  Given the lack of any formal initiative on the part of a federal 
agency, which would be given priority consideration, I support the 
efforts of the city. Our college, Congressman Bob Schaffer, 
representing Colorado's 4th congressional district, has introduced 
legislation in the House of Representatives to convey the unused Air 
Force housing facility to the city of La Junta. Today, I am introducing 
a companion measure in the Senate.
  It is my hope that this bill will be referred to the appropriate 
committee and receive expedited consideration through next year's 
authorizing and appropriations process.
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