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