[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 65 (Wednesday, May 20, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E920]]
  STATEMENT ON DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL--MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, 
                      COMPOSITE MAINTENANCE HANGAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 20, 1998

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I'm disappointed that the National Security 
Committee was unable to include funding for the construction of a new 
composite hangar for the Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing stationed 
at Moffett Federal Airfield in California.
  I understand the fiscal restraints placed on the Committee, 
especially in the area of construction and infrastructure. That is why 
I am urging the Administration to give careful consideration to 
including the project in the FY 2000 budget currently being developed.
  Currently, the hangar and maintenance facilities for the 129th Rescue 
Wing at MFA are inadequate and unsafe for personnel and aircraft. The 
existing hangar (Hangar 3), built before World War II, was designed to 
house dirigibles an is much too large and in need of costly renovations 
and repairs. A newly constructed Composite Maintenance Hangar would 
greatly enhance the operational effectiveness and readiness of the 
California Air National Guard and the 129th Rescue Wing.
  NASA was designated as the host agency to accommodate federal assets 
at Moffett as a result of the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure 
Commission recommendations. Subsequently, all tenants at Moffett were 
required to relocate to contiguous areas, using available facilities to 
house their activities. As a result, there are no aircraft hangar 
facilities available to house the nearly 200 maintenance personnel 
performing repairs to the HC-130P and HH-60G aircraft in the Air 
National Guard area. Hangar and related aircraft maintenance activities 
are currently being performed in a World War II hangar designed for 
dirigibles. The hangar is almost seven times the size of what is needed 
by the Air National Guard, and is located a substantial distance from 
the identified Air National Guard area. This building is constructed of 
wood with a metal roof and has no fire protection or state-of-the-art 
safety features.
  The current facility has inefficient and obsolete utility and 
environmental systems. The building also requires extensive code 
upgrades to ensure seismic safety, and the alarm systems are 
inadequate. Because of the age and condition of the existing hangar, 
critical and substantial operation and maintenance (O&M) funds are 
being expended annually to keep the hangar marginally useful. A Life 
Cycle Cost Report done by the Air Force shows that there is a one year 
payback involved in the construction of this new composite maintenance 
hangar, and design of the project has been completed.
  I urge the administration to include this project in next year's 
budget, and hope that at this time next year I can thank the Committee 
for its work in protecting and assisting the members of the Guard that 
serve California.

                          ____________________