Hatch, Lee, Bishop Welcome Air Force Secretary to Hill Air Force Base

March 26, 2012

SALT LAKE CITY – U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) today welcomed the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, to Hill Air Force Base. During the visit, the members of Utah’s congressional delegation toured the base with the Secretary and showcased Hill’s industrial, operational and training capabilities. The Delegation has long stressed that Hill is central to America’s defense, and impressed that upon the Secretary during his visit to Hill today. In addition to the delegation and top leaders at the base, the Secretary met with service members and their families as well as local leaders.

“The Secretary’s visit today was an opportunity to showcase Hill’s efficiency and its central role to our nation’s defense,” Hatch said. “The delegation has worked very well together to ensure that the hard-working men and women at Hill have the tools they need to remain one of the most efficient and effective bases in the our military. Today was a great day for northern Utah, and I look forward to continuing to work with the delegation and Secretary Donley to show why Hill is second to none and must remain a central figure in keeping America safe.”
 
“The time to fight for the mission of Hill Air Force Base is now,” said Lee. “If we wait until we face another round of BRAC, it may be too late to preserve the vital service the base provides to Utah and the country. I am encouraged by Secretary Donley’s visit and believe Hill AFB continues to be one of the military’s most well-run installations.”
 
“I appreciate Secretary Donley visiting hill AFB today,” Bishop said. “It is often a challenge to bridge the more than 2000 mile divide between Utah and Washington, D.C., which is why visits such as today’s are inherently important not only to Utah but to the future of our national defense capabilities. The visit allowed the Secretary to see first-hand the hard working men and women that support the many dynamic components of Hill AFB, which contribute to its role as one of the preeminent training, operational, and industrial military facilities in this country.”