Update on Willow Grove Naval Air Station

A late night note from the inbox:

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment tonight offered by U.S. Reps. Allyson Schwartz (Pa-13) and Patrick Murphy (Pa-8) that will prevent future use of the airfield at NASJRB Willow Grove for commercial and cargo purposes.

The amendment offered by Schwartz and Murphy, as part of the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, follows:

“Would prevent future use of the airfield at NASJRB Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, for commercial passenger operations; commercial cargo operations; commercial, business, or nongovernment aircraft operations not related to missions of the installation; and as a reliever airport to relieve congestion at other airports.”

The Schwartz/Murphy amendment, which was drafted in coordination with Pennsylvania’s Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, is one additional step further codifying that there will be no commercial or cargo use at the base. Their successful amendment will work in concert with efforts already underway on the state level, including bipartisan legislation which has passed both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to enact a prohibition against the use of the airfield for this purpose. Governor Rendell has expressed his support for this state level legislation.

A joint statement from Schwartz and Murphy follows below:

“We have both been long outspoken in our adamant opposition to any possible commercial or cargo use of the runaway, and we view tonight’s Congressional passage of our amendment as an important victory for the local community.

“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is currently working with the DoD to transform Willow Grove into a Joint Interagency Operation Installation dedicated to national defense, homeland security, and emergency preparedness. This effort is supported by federal, state and local leaders – including virtually all of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation and both Senators.

“Despite the outpouring of local support for the base during the BRAC process – and the unified voice with which we fought for continued military presence at the base – there remain significant concerns in the community that the base could be opened for commercial passenger and cargo operations.

“We offered this amendment and fought for its successful bipartisan passage to directly address these lingering concerns and to make clear once and for all what Governor Rendell and bipartisan elected officials of all levels of government have long made clear: Willow Grove will not become a commercial cargo or passenger airport.”