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Panetta accepts Hochul invitation to tour Niagara Falls Air Base

by jmaloni
Mon, Aug 6th 2012 05:00 pm

Tour scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 9

 On Monday, U.S. Representative Kathy Hochul, NY-26, announced that Department of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will travel to Western New York to visit the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Panetta is scheduled to arrive on Thursday, Aug. 9, to tour the base and meet with base personnel as well as state and federal officials to discuss the air base and its future.

"After working closely with Secretary Panetta over the past year, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to tour the air base with him personally," Hochul said. "As the sole military installation in the area, the Air Reserve Station plays a vital role in protecting the security of our nation, our region, and our local community. I am looking forward to the opportunity to show the secretary the strategic importance of the Niagara Air Base."

This trip comes after a March meeting at the Pentagon where Hochul extended a personal invitation to Panetta to visit the air base.

Hochul has led the fight in the House to push back on severe cuts proposed by the Department of Defense. She has met regularly with senior military leadership, including Panetta, and has worked closely with the Western New York Congressional delegation to ensure the 107th Air Wing maintains a strong presence at NFARS. Additionally, Hochul co-sponsored an amendment included in the National Defense Authorization Act that protects installations such as the 107th Airlift Wing at the Niagara Falls Air Base. This provision was adopted by the House of Representatives.

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