Ted Poe: “it is the desire to be frugal that led the Base Closure Commission to recommend the retirement of the 147th Fighter Wing…”

“it is the desire to be frugal that led the Base Closure Commission to recommend the retirement of the 147th Fighter Wing from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. The removal of these aircraft would severely weaken the military's ability to protect the City of Houston, NASA, the Port of Houston, the Port of Beaumont, and Port Arthur. It is for that reason that I have introduced House Resolution 412 which calls for the President to work with the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that any base closings do not affect homeland security inadvertently. Mr. Speaker, we should reevaluate our foreign giveaway programs if we want to save money. When homeland security is at stake and the energy capital of the world is potentially without fighter protection, the penny pinchers need to reevaluate their priorities. Like every mother tells her child, ``safety first.'' So we need to keep the F-16s flying over Southeast Texas and the energy capital of the world. ____________________”