Bishop says bill should protect Hill

WASHINGTON — Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, says the annual defense authorization bill, passed this week by the House Armed Services Committee, should help protect Hill Air Force Base in upcoming base closure fights.

Bishop, a member of the committee, said the panel helped large repair-and-maintenance depots like Hill — one of the nation's three large air logistics centers — when it killed a proposal that would have allowed more of their work to be transferred to private businesses.

"As we enter another round of BRAC (base realignment and closure), defeating proposals like this that would threaten the viability of depots and jobs at Hill is extremely important," he said.

• $13 million to replace munitions storage igloos.

• $1.8 million for a small-diameter bomb igloo.

• $1 million for a munitions maintenance facility.

• $531,000 for planning and design of a deployment center.

The bill also authorizes $8.1 million for improvements to housing at Dugway Proving Ground. Bishop said, "This has been a tough process, but I'm glad we have been able to accomplish what we have so far for Utah and particularly for Hill Air Force Base. This is a first step in a continuing effort to ensure Utah's viability in any base realignment decisions that will be made in the future."

The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.