Congressman Garamendi Gets Update on Travis Air Force Base Security, Talks to Travis Community Leaders

FAIRFIELD, CA - Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, today met with the Travis Regional Armed Forces Committee, a community consortium that strives to build bridges between Travis Air Force Base, the local community, and civic leaders.

Following his keynote address, Congressman Garamendi met with Travis Air Force Base commanders for an update on Travis base security. Since May, the base has increased random vehicle searches and the visible presence of armed security forces, particularly in areas where large numbers of people congregate. These deterrence procedures will help the base more quickly respond to and prevent a lone wolf terror attack. Though no one has made specific threats to Travis, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have noted that military bases are a desired target for some ISIL-inspired jihadists.

"Base security is on everyone’s mind in Congress. I need to know what’s working and what we can do better to keep our bases as safe as possible from terrorists," Congressman Garamendi said. "I think increasing the number and visibility of security forces is an appropriate response to the lone wolf threat, and I suspect many other Members of Congress agree."

During his speech, Garamendi explained why he voted against the initial version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Congressman is currently a member of the NDAA Conference Committee, comprised of key members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. He will determine how he will vote on the final NDAA when it clears the Conference Committee.

"We are in the first quarter of a trillion dollar nuclear arms race," Garamendi said. "Before we embark on these incredibly expanded nuclear weapons programs, I want to know why. By voting down my amendments for more information on the costs and risks of our nuclear weapons strategy, a majority of my colleagues in Congress would prefer we just vote yes and wallow in ignorance. I don’t like ignorance."

The conversation also focused on base security and the importance of Travis Air Force Base for Solano County’s economy. During a question and answer session, Garamendi responded to questions related to the security risk of privately-owned drones, the importance of the nuclear weapons treaty with Iran, and the status of America’s GPS satellite capabilities.