The publication is reproduced in full below:
DESIGNATION OF DEFENSE ACCESS ROADS AROUND TRAVIS AND BEALE AIR FORCE
BASES
______
HON. JOHN GARAMENDI
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, February 4, 2022
Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce legislation that would designate vital roads around Travis and Beale Air Force Bases 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 by moving heavy military equipment. In California, Travis and Beale Air Force Bases were built with an infrastructure to support the size of the communities and the bases at the time. But over the decades, both the civilian and military populations have outgrown the current roads providing base access at the gates.
The Defense Access Road Program exists to support communities in precisely this situation, allowing the U.S. Department of Defense and service branches to pay for maintenance, upkeep, or upgrades of roads surrounding military installations. This ensures that communities hosting bases have the infrastructure needed for civilian life and to support the military installation. Travis and Beale Air Force Bases each have some roads already designated under the Defense Access Road Program. My legislation would simply designate the remining access roads for each base under the program. As the communities surrounding Travis and Beale Air Force Bases continue to grow, the military should pay its fair share for roadway improvements for better base access and to lessen traffic congestion.
As chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, I continue working to secure forward-looking investments to expand Travis and Beale, while ensuring that the Air Force remains a good neighbor. I plan to make these Defense Access Road designations a major priority for the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023.
Travis and Beale Air Force Bases and the surrounding areas must have the world-class infrastructure needed to carry out their mission. The legislation I introduce today would ensure just that.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 23
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