[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PUBLIC USE OF THE McGREGOR RANGE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 26, 1999

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I enter into the Congressional Record a 
request made by the Texas State Legislature asking that Members of 
Congress ensure that the critical infrastructure for the U.S. military 
defense strategy be maintained through the renewal of the withdrawal 
from public use of the McGregor Range land beyond 2001.
  Future military threats to the United States and its allies may come 
from technologically advanced rogue states that for the first time are 
armed with long-range missiles capable of delivering nuclear, chemical, 
or biological weapons to an increasingly wider range of countries.
  The U.S. military strategy requires flexible and strong armed forces 
that are well-trained, well-equipped, and ready to defend our nation's 
interests against these devastating weapons of mass destruction. 
Previous rounds of military base closures combined with the realignment 
of the Department of the Army force structure have established Fort 
Bliss as the Army's Air Defense Artillery Center of Excellence, thus 
making McGregor Range, which is a part of Fort Bliss, the nation's 
principal training facility for air defense systems.
  McGregor Range is inextricably linked to the advanced missile defense 
testing network that includes Fort Bliss and the White Sands Missile 
range, providing, verifying, and maintaining the highest level of 
missile defense testing for the Patriot, Avenger, Stinger, and other 
advanced missile defense systems.
  The McGregor Range comprises more than half of the Fort Bliss 
installation land area, and the range and its restricted airspace in 
conjunction with the White Sands Missile Range, is crucial to the 
development and testing of the Army Tactical Missile System and the 
Theater High Altitude Area Defense System.
  The high quality and unique training capabilities of the McGregor 
Range allow the verification of our military readiness in air-to-ground 
combat, including the Army's only opportunity to test the Patriot 
missile in live fire, tactical scenarios, as well as execute the 
``Roving Sands'' joint training exercises held annually at Fort Bliss.
  The Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986 requires that the 
withdrawal from public use of all military land governed by the Army, 
including McGregor Range, must be terminated on November 6, 2001, 
unless such withdrawal is renewed by an Act of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to reiterate the importance of 
the McGregor Range land for the testing and training for Fort Bliss and 
the White Sands Missile Range. By being designated as the Army's Air 
Defense Artillery Center of Excellence, Fort Bliss has already received 
the status as an intricate part of the nations military defense 
systems. Tactical scenarios would not be possible without McGregor 
Range to conduct the projects. The Military Lands Withdrawal Act is 
necessary in order to continue these projects that ensure the 
prosperity of the nation's defense systems.

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