CUELLAR VOTES FOR TROOPS, TAX CUTS AND NEW TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD TRAINING CENTER
Written by Post Public Information Representative, May 29, 2010, 0 Comments
Courtesy Ashley Patterson,
Bills to Fund DOD and Tax Cuts Pass the House before Memorial Day
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to extend over $4 billion worth of vitally important tax cuts to hard-working families and supported legislation to fund the Department of Defense though 2011, including funding to create a new South Texas Joint Training Center in Tilden, Texas, for the Texas Air and Army National Guard. Both bills passed the House late Friday before Congress adjourned to recognize Memorial Day.
“We are fulfilling a commitment to fully fund the nation’s military and our brave men and women in uniform,” said Congressman Cuellar. “This legislation is a critical part of supporting our national defense and ensuring we have the resolve to combat the spectrum of 21st century threats facing our country.”
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2011 makes record investments in the nation’s military by authorizing a $726 billion budget for the Department of Defense next year. Included in the legislation is federal funding to create a new South Texas Joint Training Center in Tilden, Texas for the Texas Air and Army National Guard.
Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz (D-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, spearheaded the effort with Congressman Cuellar to secure the $5 million in federal funding necessary to develop the new center in South Texas.
The new South Texas Joint Training Center in Tilden will make 25,000 acres of land available to the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard for joint maneuver training and individual unit training drills. This center will be a first of its kind major training center in South Texas, allowing local Texas military forces to train without having to travel long distances as they are forced to do today.
“Congressman Ortiz is a longtime advocate for our nation’s military, ensuring their readiness, capabilities and support. He’s worked hard to secure the funds to establish this new training center in South Texas and now our local Texas National Guard can train and strengthen their readiness right here in our own community,” said Congressman Cuellar. “This will be a great benefit to the state and especially to South Texas.”
The new training center will acquire approximately four ranches adjacent to the Dixie bombing range located in McMullen County, Texas, approximately 65 miles west of Corpus Christi. The primary Texas Air National Guard and Texas Army National Guard units located in this region are the 3rd Battalion 141st Infantry, the 1st Battalion 141st Infantry, the 386th Engineer Battalion, the 149th Fighter Wing and the 147th Fighter Wing.
Following House passage Friday, the Defense Authorization Act will move forward to the U.S. Senate. The funding for the new training center will need to be approved by the Senate before the President signs the measure into law.
For more information on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), please visit: http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/HASCFY11NDAA051910.pdf
