Congressman Teague Pushes HAFB Concerns during Obama Visit

ALAMOGORDO (Alamogordo Daily News) September 1, 2010 — U.S. Rep. Harry Teague met with President Barack Obama on Tuesday during the commander-in-chief's visit to Fort Bliss.

The president and Teague each met about 150 U.S. Army soldiers who recently returned from Iraq and they thanked the soldiers for their service.

"I am grateful for the service and safe return of these brave soldiers," Teague said in a press release. "As we celebrate the return of these servicemen and women who sacrificed so much to protect our freedom, it's important to remember the 50,000 troops still serving in Iraq. Our job is not done until they are home safely."

Teague was to host a Small Business Resource workshop from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Sgt. Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center, but opted to travel to El Paso to meet with President Obama.

"I was honored to have the opportunity to be at Fort Bliss today to extend my thanks and gratitude for their service and welcome them home," Teague said.

Teague delivered a letter to Obama that addressed the importance of Holloman Air Force Base, urging a quick transition to Holloman's recently announced F-16 mission to minimize any economic impact on Alamogordo and the Tularosa Basin, as well as urging continued growth in the mission and number of F-16 planes stationed at Holloman.

"Now that you are visiting Fort Bliss, which is contiguous to Holloman, I would like to take this opportunity to address the importance of Holloman Air Force Base with you directly," Teague wrote in the letter.

The following are Teague's requests to Obama regarding Holloman and Alamogordo:

• Stick hard and fast to the schedule the Air Force has laid out for the arrival of the two F-16 training squadrons at Holloman. Any deviation from that schedule could cause an economic bathtub and severely harm the economy of Alamogordo.

• Deliver "twin" Block 42 F-16 training squadrons to Holloman. The Air Force has a choice of sending Holloman either two Block 42 F-16 squadrons or one Block 42 F-16 squadron and one Block 25 F-16 squadron. Sending twin Block 42 squadrons to Holloman will allow greater maintenance efficiency for the base and the Air Force.

• As F-35s begin to arrive at Luke Air Force Base in the coming years, base Luke's other two F-16 training squadrons at Holloman. The base and the community are capable of and enthusiastic about supporting them.

• Continue the military's support for basing RPA missions at Holloman by building a new runway for RPAs at Holloman that will allow training of take-off and landings.