[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 61 (Monday, April 10, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E299-E300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DESIGNATION OF DEFENSE ACCESS ROADS AROUND TRAVIS AND BEALE AIR FORCE 
                      BASES AND SIERRA ARMY DEPOT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 10, 2023

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce legislation that 
would designate vital roads around Travis and Beale Air Force Bases and 
Sierra Army Depot in northern California, under the Defense Access Road 
Program. I thank my colleague Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA01), who 
represents the neighboring Congressional district, for being the bill's 
original cosponsor.
  Military installations play important roles in communities around the 
country, but also pose unique challenges by increasing traffic and 
subjecting civilian roadways to harsh use from heavy military 
equipment. In California, Travis and Beale Air Force Bases and Sierra 
Army Depot were built with infrastructure to

[[Page E300]]

support the size of the communities and the bases at the time. Over the 
decades, both the civilian and military populations have outgrown the 
current roads providing base access to the gates.
  The Defense Access Road Program exists to support communities in 
precisely this situation, enabling the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) 
and service branches to pay for maintenance, upkeep, or upgrades of 
roads surrounding military installations. This ensures communities 
hosting bases have the infrastructure needed to support national 
security and civilian use. Certain roads surrounding Travis and Beale 
Air Force Bases are currently designated under the Defense Access Road 
Program. My legislation would designate the remaining access roads for 
each base under the program. It is necessary for the DOD to provide for 
maintenance and repairs as DOD use of the access roads continues and 
increases, to reduce the financial burden on the State.
  As the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on 
Readiness, I continue to work on proactive investments to support 
national security while also ensuring that communities around our 
military bases have the support they need. I plan to make these Defense 
Access Road designations a major priority for the National Defense 
Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024.
  Travis and Beale Air Force Bases and Sierra Army Depot and the 
surrounding areas must have the world-class infrastructure needed to 
carry out their mission. The legislation I reintroduce today would 
ensure just that.

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