Bill Text: TX SCR37 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
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.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-15 - Signed by the Governor [SCR37 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SCR37-Enrolled.html
S.C.R. No. 37 |
|
||
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 United States 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 United States 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. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 37 was adopted by the Senate | ||
on April 30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 37 was adopted by the House | ||
on May 22, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 2, one | ||
present not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
Approved: | ||
______________________________ | ||
Date | ||
______________________________ | ||
Governor |