Defense
Louisiana has a long and distinguished military history. The Battle of New Orleans, a celebrated victory for U.S. troops over the British Redcoats, was the last battle in the War of 1812. It was the final nail in the coffin to repel England's plans to reclaim America as part of the United Kingdom. Teddy Roosevelt, then an Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the late 1890s, envisioned New Orleans as a key port for the Navy. In 1901, just weeks after Teddy Roosevelt was elected President, the U.S. Naval Station New Orleans began operations along the banks of the Mississippi River. In the Summer of 1941, over 500,000 Army soldiers participated in the storied Louisiana Maneuvers to prepare for combat in Europe should America be required to enter WWII and defeat the Nazis. The key to any war is successful planning, and military heroes such as Dwight Eisenhower, George Patton, George Marshall, Omar Bradley, and Leslie McNair planned and prepared for WWII in the pine forests and swamps of Louisiana. We have much to be proud of.
Today, Louisiana continues to be a leader in America's national defense. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines all have a major presence in Louisiana. When America goes to war, it cannot do so without the patriotic contribution of thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines from Louisiana.
The city of New Orleans is still vital to the Navy. The Navy and Marine Reserve Head Quarters now sit on the same site as the U.S. Naval Station. At the Avondale shipyard, over 6,000 men and women from Louisiana build the finest ships in the Navy fleet. The Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chase is also a jewel for the Department of Defense because it houses units from the Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines, and Coast Guard all on one base, over 7,500 troops. Few other bases in the United States can make that claim.
The site of the Louisiana Maneuvers is now the home of Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center. Over 10,700 soldiers are stationed at Fort Polk. It is the premiere infantry training base in the world with state-of-the-art training ranges and an urban combat facility that expertly prepare our soldiers for the threats of modern warfare. Moreover, nearly 5,000 soldiers from Fort Polk have fought bravely and courageously in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish is home to the 8th Air Force Headquarters, and, of course, the Air Force's storied B-52s and A-10 Warthogs. Over 7,800 airmen call Barksdale home. The B-52 has been flying for over 50 years, but she is still the best bomber in the Air Force. The B-52, the A-10, and their Barksdale crews have proved their worth throughout Afghanistan and Iraq. They are unrivaled.
Additionally, over 26,000 Louisianans serve their country as members of the Louisiana Guard and the Reserves. The United States cannot fight without our National Guard and Reserve. Approximately, 13,000, or 50%, Louisiana Guardsmen and Reservists have been called to active duty since September 11, 2001. They have served their country with distinction during difficult times. They must often leave their families and work-places for up to 18 months and face the hazards of combat. These Louisianans and their families are serving on the home-front and the war-front.
As a former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a current member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am committed to giving our troops every tool they need to protect our nation. Over 150,000 Americans are serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two million more troops are stationed in the United States and around the world to protect our sovereignty and defend our nation from those wishing to harm us. Congress must ensure that these troops have the finest weapons systems, armored vehicles, body armor, training, and housing available.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have fought to increase the size of our Navy fleet and provide our troops in Iraq with more armored vehicles. We cannot afford to let our Navy fleet decline any further. If we do so, we may be unable to deliver our forces to future wars and provide air power from the sea when we are denied land bases from which to deploy our troops and aircraft. Moreover, we must ensure that our troops in the field that need armored vehicles have them. In particular, I restored funding for the Army's Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) program. The ASV provides greater protection to soldiers than up-armored humvees and has greater fire-power to combat any insurgents trying to attack our forces. The ASV has become a vehicle of choice for convoy protection, and I will continue to urge the Army to make the ASV available to its soldiers.
Additionally, I also serve on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction. It is my goal to improve the infrastructure at Louisiana's bases. Infrastructure improvements will create better training opportunities for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, and make them more prepared for combat. For instance, Fort Polk is building a new digital training range. When it is complete, it will be the most high-tech training facility in the world and give our soldiers a leg up on their enemies. Infrastructure improvements will also increase the quality of life of our troops and our military families. We must ensure that our bases have modern and comfortable housing, learning centers, fitness centers, and child-care. That is why I have worked to secure funding for the construction or renovation of over 4,400 houses and barracks at Belle Chasse, Fort Polk, and Barksdale. At Belle Chase, I worked to fund a new child-care center on the base. At Barksdale, I helped fund a new fitness center, and at Fort Polk I helped fund a new library for our soldiers and their families. When we give our troops and their families the best training and quality of life available, they are likely to make a career out of the military and become great leaders. We cannot afford to do otherwise.
Not only am I proud of Louisiana's contribution to America's security, but I am proud and grateful for the service of every man and woman who puts on the uniform to defend our Nation. At times we must ask them to go to war and even make the ultimate sacrifice. If we expect so much of them, they expect and deserve Congress to provide them the resources they need to succeed.READ MORE
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