[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2473-S2474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, as you are aware, last Friday 
the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, announced the winners of the 
2010 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence. 
Included on this prestigious list is Elmendorf Air Force Base in 
Anchorage, AK. This award recognizes the outstanding and innovative 
efforts of the brave men and women who operate and maintain our 
Nation's military installations. I would like to read the award 
citation for Elmendorf for the record.

       The men and women of Elmendorf Air Force Base distinguished 
     themselves by significantly improving the quality of life, 
     productivity, and work environment for over

[[Page S2474]]

     seventeen thousand Arctic Warrior Airmen and their families. 
     They did this in part through the execution of the largest 
     Military Construction program in base history, an 
     unprecedented 460 million dollars in construction. Directly 
     contributing to their success was the ability to obtain the 
     lead contracting authority for four projects, an Air Force 
     first. Elmendorf Air Force Base is also leading the way for 
     the Air Force by being the one and only wing to use Air Force 
     Reserve Command officers to fill active duty billets to 
     leverage the stability and experience of reserve personnel to 
     realize a true total force integration gain. They were also 
     the first to implement a new Veteran's Affairs itemized 
     billing process, increasing reimbursements by 20 percent, and 
     becoming a model for other Joint Venture sites. This 
     contributed to the hospital being named as the number one 
     hospital in the Air Force for the second year in a row. 
     Finally, through ceaseless efforts to protect natural 
     resources, Elmendorf was named as having Pacific Air Force's 
     number one environmental program, winning the coveted General 
     White Awards for natural resource conservation and pollution 
     prevention. The commitment to excellence demonstrated by the 
     men and women of Elmendorf Air Force Base reflects great 
     credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force.

  Congratulations to the men and women of Elmendorf Air Force Base as 
well as to the other winners of the coveted Commander-In-Chief's 
Installation Excellence Award.

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