Henry Bonilla: “everyone in this Chamber should understand that this has absolutely nothing to do with the base closing process. In…”

“everyone in this Chamber should understand that this has absolutely nothing to do with the base closing process. In Texas, we are willing to take our medicine. We felt that our depot should stay open at Kelly Air Force Base, but we were chosen to be closed and we must now face the music and deal with reality. But what is wrong, and I appeal to the people in this body who have any sense of fiscal conservatism, or any sense of competition and supporting private sector involvement in government contracts, what is wrong with having us set up shop at the former base, to invite private contractors to come in and bid for business? What is wrong with that? And if the depots that are surviving this process do indeed come forward with a lower bid, then they win. What is more American than having competition out there to bid for business in this country? That is what we are talking about. I can appreciate the parochial interest of the States that have the remaining depots. They want it all. And they want the law to say they will get it all without any competition. But I say to any Member in this body who believes in fiscal conservatism, fiscal responsibility, free enterprise or competition, they must see our plan on this and support what we are trying to do.”