Sánchez Urges Congressional Leaders to Include Norwalk Tank Farm Amendment in NDAA

Washington, DC- Today, Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38) urged House and Senate leaders to include an amendment that would facilitate the transfer of 15 acres of land from the U.S. Air Force to the City of Norwalk in the bicameral version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Earlier this May, the amendment passed by a voice vote to be added to the House version of the NDAA.  If approved, the measure would designate an area of the U.S. Air Force Norwalk Defense Fund Supply Point as land intended for public use.

A copy of the letter is included below.

November 13, 2014

The Honorable Chairman Levin

Chairman

U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee

The Honorable James Inhofe 

Ranking Member 

U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee

The Honorable Howard P. "Buck" McKeon

Chairman

U.S. House Armed Services Committee

The Honorable Adam Smith

Ranking Member 

U.S. House Armed Services Committee

Dear Chairman Levin, Chairman McKeon, Ranking Member Inhofe, and Ranking Member Smith:

As your committees work diligently to produce a bipartisan and bicameral National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), I would like to express my strong support for the Land Conveyance, Former U.S. Air Force Norwalk Defense Fuel Supply Point, Norwalk, California amendment to be included in final conference version of the Fiscal Year 2015 NDAA.

The Norwalk land conveyance amendment was approved by voice vote in en bloc on May 22, 2014 as part of the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4435). If enacted, it will facilitate the transfer of a portion of the U.S. Air Force Norwalk Defense Fuel Supply Point, also known as the Norwalk Tank Farm, to the City of Norwalk. It would allow 15 acres of the 51 acre area to be designated for public purposes and transferred to the City of Norwalk.

This amendment is a reflection of years of leadership and compromise between the City of Norwalk and the U.S. Air Force. Once this land is transferred, this currently blighted property will mean real opportunity for the City of Norwalk and surrounding communities. This property is currently located next to an elementary school and a child care learning center – once the land has been completely cleaned and the park is built, children will have somewhere safe to go afterschool and on weekends. 

The Norwalk land conveyance amendment has real implications for communities in my District. I urge you to include this amendment in final conference version of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Sincerely,

Linda T. Sánchez

Member of Congress