[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5434-S5435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE

  Mr. JOHNSON. Last week, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sent his 
base closure recommendations to the Base Realignment and Closure 
Commission. I am deeply disappointed with his decision to include 
Ellsworth Air Force Base. This recommendation is short-sighted and 
harmful to our national security. I am confident that the BRAC 
Commission will recognize the invaluable contribution that Ellsworth 
makes to the defense of our homeland and will support removing it from 
the list.
  Ellsworth is one of only two bases in the country where the B-1 is 
stationed. In the past decade, the B-1 has been invaluable to our 
national defense and it is truly the backbone of our bomber fleet. B-1 
crews stationed at Ellsworth have flown missions in Kosovo, 
Afghanistan, and Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, B-1s were 
integral in liberating Iraq by dropping more than half the satellite 
guided munitions on critical targets including command and control 
facilities, bunkers, and surface-to-air missile sites.
  In addition, Ellsworth is strategically located and has excellent 
access to B-1 training ranges. It is not threatened by urban 
encroachment or congested air space and has strong community support. 
During the past decade, I have used my position on the Military 
Construction Appropriations subcommittee to help direct funding to 
Ellsworth for critical upgrades including a new base operations 
building, a B-1 training facility, and military housing that ranks 
amongst the best in the country. Given its ideal location, as well as 
the long-term investment in the base's infrastructure, Ellsworth is 
capable of expanding and accepting new missions.
  I emphatically disagree with the Secretary's recommendation to close 
Ellsworth, and I am eager to work with the Ellsworth Task Force, and 
the entire South Dakota Congressional delegation, to ensure Ellsworth 
remains a vital part of our national defense. Ellsworth is a premier 
installation that has proven it can be a competitive military base for 
decades to come.
  To that end, I am cosponsoring legislation that will postpone this 
round of base closures. At a time when we are engaged in two military 
conflicts, as well as rotating soldiers back to the U.S. from overseas 
installations, we should not be closing bases at home. Simultaneously 
closing domestic and

[[Page S5435]]

overseas bases will irrevocably damage our ability to defend against 
threats at home and abroad.
  This bill will delay this round of domestic base closures until the 
recommendations offered by the Overseas Basing Commission report has 
been reviewed by the Department of Defense. In addition, the bill would 
prohibit this round of base closures from commencing until combat units 
currently deployed to Iraq have returned home and the Pentagon 
completes the quadrennial defense review. I firmly believe that these 
are reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure we do not irreversibly 
impair our national defense.
  The entire State of South Dakota is proud of Ellsworth and the men 
and women stationed there for their role in keeping America safe. We 
are confident that the commission will see the military value of 
Ellsworth and will support removing it from the base closure list.

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