Gilbert Gutknecht: “I thank the Chairman and applaud the committee for including funding for a new National Guard Training and Community…”

“I thank the Chairman and applaud the committee for including funding for a new National Guard Training and Community Center in Mankato, MN, in this year's military construction bill. For the information of Members, the Mankato Training and Community Center was included in the 2001 Future Years Defense Plan and is one of the highest priorities of the Minnesota National Guard. The United States has called on its military for major deployments three times as much in the last 10 years as in the previous 40. If we continue to call on our military with an ever-increasing frequency we must also commit to updating the facilities and equipment which are essential to its mission. We must not simply pour money into our military, without first ensuring that this money is being spent well. Training and community centers are a win-win solution, that gives value-added benefit to the local community and much greater benefit from the Government dollar. These facilities traditionally have been used only by the Guard unit and remain unused during the week when no training is conducted. By allowing the community to share in the use and cost of the new facility the community receives a state-of-the-art community center and the Guard benefits from a better facility than without the local community's contribution. The 2d battalion 135th Infantry in Mankato, MN is certainly in need of a new facility.”