On the recordNovember 18, 2011
today I am pleased to speak about my amendment No. 1149. I would like to thank my cosponsor, Senator Murkowski, for her work on this amendment. This amendment is very simple. It authorizes the Air Force to enter into a land exchange and conveyance in Alaska. The exchange will resolve land-use conflicts between the municipality of Anchorage, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and Eklutna, an Alaska Native village. By working out this agreement, we are ensuring the airmen and soldiers at the joint base have more land available to continue the vital training they need to defend our Nation. All Federal agencies involved support this land exchange and conveyance. This includes the Air Force and Bureau of Land Management. I appreciate my colleagues' consideration of this amendment and urge their support.
