Military/Fort Bliss

As an Army combat veteran, I understand the sacrifices that the men and women of our Armed Forces endure when serving abroad. Since coming to Congress, I have supported efforts to improve the quality of life for the brave men and women who sacrifice to serve our nation. I believe in the need to increase pay for our troops, improve housing facilities, and develop new, safer technology and equipment. I have also worked to bring attention to the issue of troop levels and have supported increasing the size of the Army because current operational commitments are stretching our troops too thin and straining their families too much.

When I first arrived in Congress, I immediately requested a seat on the House Armed Services Committee. Coming from a region which boasts three military facilities – Fort Bliss, White Sands Missile Range, and Holloman Air Force Base – I know how important these installations are to our national security and our regional economy.

As a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have worked to bring critical attention to Fort Bliss and area military facilities. I recently helped to secure the facilities necessary for Fort Bliss to be designated a U.S. Army Power Projection Platform. Due to my position on the committee, I have been able to bring influential defense policymakers such as former Army Secretary Louis Caldera and the Honorable Curt Weldon to visit Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range and show them what national assets these facilities are.

Readiness Subcommittee
The Readiness Subcommittee is responsible for military readiness, training, logistics and maintenance issues and programs.  In addition, the Subcommittee is responsible for all military construction, installations and family housing issues, including the base closure process. Military construction is critical to ensuring the continued military value of a base.  Congressman Reyes serves on this Subcommittee (and its predecessor, the Military Installations and Facilities Subcommittee) because these issues are critical to the continued operation and value of military posts.  Since his election, he has secured over $4 billion in construction projects to upgrade Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range.  Additionally, Reyes is a strong supporter of Impact Aid to provide financial support to school districts which serve the children of military members and the Army’s Residential Communities Initiative (RCI), an effort to eliminate inadequate housing on Army bases.

Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
Congressman Reyes serves as a member of the Air and Land Forces Subcommittee which has jurisdiction over the modernization of equipment used by our military's ground and aviation troops.  With a focus on the Army and Air Force programs, Congressman Reyes' service as a senior member of the Subcommittee allows him be involved in the decisions which affect the future of our national defense.  Specifically, the Subcommittee is responsible for funding key programs of importance to Fort Bliss, White Sands Missile Range, and Holloman Air Force Base include the Future Combat Systems (FCS), F-22 fighter aircraft, the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and all Army aviation programs.