Public Meetings on Air Force Airspace Proposals

Dear Friend,

Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve been proud to champion New Mexico’s military installations, while also ensuring that those installations listen to our communities needs and concerns.

Back when Holloman Air Force Base proposed changes to its airspace agreements for military aircraft training locations, I stood with the local stakeholders to address community concerns. In that case, the U.S. Air Force listened to the community and decided to not increase training activity over some of our nation’s most treasured public spaces like the Gila National Forest.

Now, the U.S. Air Force is initiating a similar process for the training missions at its installations in Arizona. It’s considering several airspace changes, potentially impacting airspace over the Gila National Forest, as well as the Coronado National Forest, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in southwestern New Mexico’s Bootheel Region, including numerous Wilderness Study Areas and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.

As Air Force leadership look at the potential impacts of these potential changes, I want to be sure they are engaging with you in a transparent process.

The following public meetings are taking place this week in impacted communities in New Mexico. I hope you will be able to attend and make your voice heard.

Reserve – September 10, 2024

5:00 – 8:00 pm

Reserve Community Center

Mountaineer Road (across from the High School)

Reserve, N.M. 87830

Silver City – September 11, 2024

5:00 – 8:00 pm

Western New Mexico University

Global Resource Center

1000 West College Avenue

Silver City, N.M 88062

Lordsburg – September 12, 2024

5:00 – 8:00 pm

James H. Baxter Civic Center

313 E 4th Street

Lordsburg, NM 88045

Animas – September 13, 2024

5:00 – 8:00 pm

Animas High School

1 Panther Boulevard

Animas, N.M. 88020

From the outset of the Holloman process, local residents expressed steady and firm opposition to the Air Force's proposal to expand airspace for low-flying training missions over the Gila National Forest. Over and over again, folks expressed concerns that low-level flights and flares in wilderness areas would be disruptive to their way of life, threaten public safety, and damage the local economy.

This time, it will be equally important that the Air Force consider and communicate about the impact of any changes on affected communities. I will work closely with the Air Force and other federal agencies to ensure that transparency remains a key priority and that the voices of New Mexicans are heard.

Sincerely,