Congressman proud to represent Team Travis

  • Published
  • By 349th Air Mobility Wing
  • Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, is pleased to announce that House Resolution 1585, his resolution honoring the people of Travis Air Force Base, passed the House of Representatives by an 408-0 vote. Garamendi is proud to represent Travis in Congress.

The resolution  H. Res 1585 - see it at): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daBXC5wWw1s

(1) "honors and recognizes the exemplary service and sacrifice of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, the 349th Air Mobility Wing, the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, and the 615th Contingency Response Wing civilians and families serving at Travis Air Force Base, California;

(2) "offers condolences to the families of the brave men and women of Team Travis who have lost their lives in defense of the United States; and
(3) "commends the actions of private citizens and organizations in the Travis Air Force Base community for their steadfast support of members of the United States Armed Forces and their families."

Congressman Garamendi issued the following floor statement for the House record:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1585, a resolution expressing the appreciation of the House of Representatives for the service and sacrifice of the members of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, 349th Air Reserve Wing, 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, 615th Contingency Response Wing, and Travis Air Force Base.

"Affectionately known as Team Travis, the team includes 13,900 active duty, reservists, and civilians of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, the 349th Air Mobility Wing, the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, the 615th Contingency Response Wing and their families.

"Travis was established in 1942, originally named the Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base. In 1951, it was renamed to Travis Air Force Base, and its vital missions continued. Travis Air Force Base has been called the "Gateway to the Pacific", and the brave men and women who have served at Travis know a thing or two about our neighbors - across the Pacific and in all corners of the globe.

"The brave men and women of Travis Air Force Base proudly served in World War II, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War. More recently, Team Travis has played major roles in providing airlift, air refueling, and aero medical evacuation in support of combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, flying 102,581 hours for Operation Iraqi Freedom and 70,940 hours for Operation Enduring Freedom.

"They have also carried out vital humanitarian missions in Berlin, Darfur, Rwanda, and Haiti. Indeed, after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, Team Travis conducted the first humanitarian airlift mission, providing search and rescue personnel, medical experts and supplies, and facilitated the delivery of more than 1,000,000 pounds of
cargo during the duration of the Haitian Relief Effort. And after the tragic 2004 tsunami that devastated much of South Asia, Travis delivered more than two million pounds of supplies, providing a third of the entire U.S. relief effort.

"Given their broad contribution to humanitarian causes the world, it's clear that the 60th Air Mobility Wing and Team Travis valiantly fulfill their motto of being "America's First Choice".

"Not only is Travis a vital and valued base furthering American missions and humanitarianism abroad, it's also the most important employer in California's Solano County. Travis spends roughly $390 million a year in Solano County and they are the largest contributor to the County's economic activity. An estimated 5,600 jobs in Solano County are created by Travis,
and the economic impact of those jobs is $223 million.

"For the past 12 years, my friend, Congressman Ike Skelton, has served as either ranking member or chair of the committee with primary jurisdiction over Travis Air Force Base: the Armed Services Committee. I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to note that with Chairman Skelton's leadership on behalf of our men and women in uniform, Team Travis and every
other soldier and military family in this country would be in a worse position today. Chairman Skelton will be leaving this august body soon, but he leaves us with a legacy of accomplishment. It's been an honor to serve under him in the Armed Services Committee.

"Today, let's honor the Travis Air Force Base family, while also offering our condolences to the families of the brave servicemembers of Team Travis who have lost their lives in defense of the United States. Travis is home to thousands of true American heroes, and it's my rare privilege and honor and to represent so many real life Superman and Superwomen in Congress."

For more information contact Mr. Brandon Minto, Field Representative Congressman John Garamendi, CA - 10, at (707) 438-1822 or visit: http://garamendi.house.gov