[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 122 (Thursday, July 2, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4212-S4213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE

  Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. President, as a member of the Senate Armed Services 
Committee and as the Senator from the great State of New Mexico, it is 
my honor to recognize all of the patriotic Americans who have 
contributed to 75 years of accomplishments and history at White Sands 
Missile Range, WSMR.
  In the final months of America's engagement in World War II and as 
the Manhattan Project's unprecedented scientific mission achieved its 
secret goal of harnessing nuclear power, the U.S. Army established the 
White Sands Proving Ground on July 9, 1945, in New Mexico's Tularosa 
Basin. Seven days later, the detonation of the first atomic bomb at the 
Trinity Site ushered in the nuclear era and began what would become 
three-quarters of a century of major scientific breakthroughs, critical 
weapons testing and evaluation, and military technology advances.
  We must acknowledge the sacrifices New Mexicans have made over the 
years that contributed to both the establishment and the enduring 
missions at WSMR. That includes the families whose historic homes and 
ranches were taken to create WSMR's land base. It includes local 
residents in the Tularosa Basin who were downwind from the Trinity test 
and whose lives continue to be impacted. It includes the local 
communities in southern New Mexico who play a vital role in supporting 
WSMR's success today.
  WSMR is a landmark of technological advances for all branches of the

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military. Following World War II, White Sands was where German 
scientist Werner Von Braun conceived, developed, and tested the long-
range V-2 rockets, initiating America's space program. Since then, 
White Sands has continued to support essential defense and space 
exploration programs for the Department of Defense and the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, alongside other important 
scientific research.
  Today's WSMR, which spans 3,200 square miles of the Tularosa Basin, 
is the Department of Defense's largest, fully-instrumented test range. 
It provides our Armed Forces, our allies, and defense technology 
partners with unrivaled terrain for research, testing, evaluation, 
experimentation, and training that ensures our defense readiness. WSMR 
executes an average of 5,000 tests each year. These tests, in emerging 
technologies such as swarming autonomous and unmanned systems, joint 
integrated air and missile defense, nuclear weapons effects, and space 
based capabilities, will keep WSMR at the forefront of our national 
defense for years to come.
  As part of the Army Test and Evaluation Command, WSMR is the Army 
Center of Excellence for Air and Missile Defense Test Bed and Precision 
Fires Rockets and Missiles. White Sands supports key capabilities in 
the National Defense Strategy and modernization priorities, including 
directed energy systems such as laser and high-powered microwave 
systems, kinetics, electromagnetic pulse, hypersonic and long-range 
precision fires, U.S. Space Program test support, nuclear weapons 
effects, and autonomous systems.
  While it is a U.S. Army installation stewarded by the Army, WSMR is 
chartered as a tri-service installation, home to elements of the U.S. 
Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force. Other organizations conducting 
operations at WSMR include NASA, National Reconnaissance Office, 
Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Research and Analysis Center, 
Center for Countermeasures, and Combat Capabilities Development Command 
(Data and Analysis Center and Army Research Laboratory).
  WSMR also hosts the Bataan Memorial Death March each year, a large 
and growing event that recognizes the heroism and sacrifice of the New 
Mexicans and others who endured and in many cases lost their lives to 
the horrors of World War II's Bataan Death March. I have had the 
distinct honor of joining this incredible event on a few occasions and 
treasure the valuable lessons it imparts on everyone who participates.
  I want to extend my sincere appreciation and congratulations to 
everyone who works hard every single day at WSMR to keep all of us 
safe. President John F. Kennedy stated it best, when he stood before 
your predecessors at WSMR during a visit on June 5, 1963. President 
Kennedy said: ``What you do here far and away from Washington, far away 
from our great capitals, far away from so many countries which depend 
upon us, what you do here, what progress you make, what dedication you 
demonstrate makes a significant difference to the security of our 
country and those who depend upon us.''
  I could not agree more. I wish everyone at WSMR a happy 75th 
anniversary and will continue to support WSMR's critical work in 
defense of our great Nation.

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