“I am disappointed by the outcome of the Senate vote because I would like to see the Army given the opportunity to go forward with the study as soon as possible,” said Rep. Lamborn. “I believe inhibiting the Army’s ability to engage in constructive dialogue with the surrounding community, will exacerbate, rather than alleviate, the tensions related to the issue.”

The Army has stated that acquisition of land at PCMS supports and enhances realistic, doctrinally sound joint-training for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, and the Reserves. Changes in combat doctrine require units to operate over increasingly larger expanses of terrain. Today, Brigade Combat Teams form the core of our force. They operate in and control areas of approximately 31 by 31 miles and make our Army more deployable, flexible, lethal, and adaptive. In order to effectively maneuver in these large areas while in-theater, troops must be trained at home in areas of a similar size.

“This amendment seeks only to block a fact-finding study, not the actual expansion. Congress would still have to appropriate the funds for the Army to purchase any land and it should be at that point, not before, that those opposed to the plan seek a legislative solution to stop it,” said Rep. Lamborn. “By prohibiting the Army from completing a study, this vote sets the dangerous precedent of making decisions before gathering all the facts.”

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