Andrea Joy Campbell: “by way of legislation, I offer my support to the city of La Junta, Colorado, for its innovative and impressive response…”

“by way of legislation, I offer my support to the city of La Junta, Colorado, for its innovative and impressive response to the challenges facing the Lower Arkansas Valley. City officials have seized a unique opportunity to alleviate La Junta's housing crisis, expand the local Head Start program and increase access to child care, and solve Otero Junior College's dormitory problems. The city of La Junta, in conjunction with Otero Junior College, has proposed to take over the recently closed La Junta Air Base family housing site. Until one year ago, when it was farmed out to a civilian defense contractor, the Air Force's test range for its bomber pilots was housed in La Junta. Since then, several federal agencies have expressed interest in the site, but none has asserted their formal desire to reuse the facility. Further, taxpayers are spending nearly $100,000 annually to maintain an empty facility, while the city and residents of La Junta are losing out on a significant supplement to the local tax base. The reuse plan I am endorsing provides for a self-sustaining and revenue generating housing and local services site, which is a well developed and cooperative solution to some very real local concerns. Given the lack of any formal initiative on the part of a federal agency, which would be given priority consideration, I support the efforts of the city.”