Bill Text: TX HCR109 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub

Texas House Concurrent Resolution 109 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Urging Congress to encourage the Department of Defense to relocate the United States Africa Command to Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-22 - Laid on the table subject to call [HCR109 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HCR109-Comm_Sub.html

	84R17368 BPG-D

	By: Paul, Miller of Fort Bend,	H.C.R. No. 109
	Bonnen of Galveston



	CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, The Pentagon could realize significant savings by
	relocating the United States Africa Command from Germany to
	Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston; and
	WHEREAS, When AFRICOM was created in 2007, the Department of
	Defense chose a temporary location in Stuttgart; it intended to
	select a permanent headquarters in Africa, but set this plan aside
	due to cost projections and the sensitivities of African nations;
	and
	WHEREAS, The Department of Defense conducted a study in 2012
	that found maintaining AFRICOM headquarters stateside would cost
	$60 million to $70 million less per year; although relocation would
	involve expense, this expense could be recouped within two to six
	years; moreover, the relocation would create as many as 4,300
	additional jobs for U.S. residents, and it would have an annual
	impact on the local economy ranging from $350 million to $450
	million; and
	WHEREAS, Should the defense department decide to relocate
	AFRICOM, Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston would be an
	ideal home for the headquarters; the base features strong joint
	service military value of active duty, reserve, and guard units
	from all five U.S. armed services, some of which presently conduct
	training and operational missions for AFRICOM; it is also equipped
	to handle military aircraft, and the city boasts one of the nation's
	most vibrant ports; moreover, the community is exceptionally
	supportive of the military, and the Greater Houston area has strong
	cultural, educational, medical, and diplomatic ties with Africa;
	and
	WHEREAS, The Government Accountability Office has concluded
	that the relocation of AFRICOM to the United States would generate
	tremendous cost savings and economic benefits, and Ellington Field
	Joint Reserve Base offers advantages that would enhance the
	effectiveness of the headquarters; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas
	hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to direct the
	Department of Defense to relocate the United States Africa Command
	to Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
	copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
	the secretary of the Department of Defense, to the president of the
	Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United
	States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to
	Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the
	Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United
	States of America.