GOP Congressman Chris Collins announced funding for a state-of-the-art fitness facility at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (ARS) is included in an appropriations bill expected to pass the House this week.
Original proposals for this facility were included in the fiscal year 2021 budget, although Collins worked with the Air Force and House Appropriations Committee to have the funding expedited to this year.
"The men and women who bravely serve in the 914th Airlift Wing and the Air National Guard 107th Airlift Wing currently do not have a fitness facility that meets their needs," Collins said. "After learning of this problem, I have done everything in my power to speed along funding for a new facility to make sure that our servicemen and women are prepared to do the job they so courageously have volunteered to do."
Collins noted the current fitness facility does not include an indoor track, leaving service members without a place to run during the winter months. This has forced service members to delay parts of their physical fitness assessments for up to six months, threatening their ability to serve when called upon.
Additionally, the Collins camp said the facility has become physically dangerous, because there is not enough space to follow effective safety protocols. Space constraints have also led to road closures around the base during the summer months when roads are being used for service members to complete their physical fitness tests.
Collins added: "Our nation's military faced years of neglect under President Obama, and we unfortunately saw these shortfalls in Western New York at the Niagara Falls ARS. Now that President Trump is in office, we are finally making critical investments to increase readiness and modernize operations. I would like to thank the Trump administration and the House Appropriations Committee for prioritizing this project and for their commitment to the men and women who serve in Niagara Falls."
The House is expected to vote Friday on H.R. 5895 - Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 (Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019). To read a copy of H.R. 5895, click
HERE.
