Military

By Capt. Joseph A. Macri

31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (USAFENS) -- Several airmen voiced their personal concerns when they had lunch with three visiting members of Congress here April 15.  

Chet Edwards (Democrat from Texas), Joe Knollenberg (Republican from Mich.) and Ron Lewis (Republican from Ky.) accompanied by Gen. Gregory S. Martin, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, toured the base to learn about the various military construction projects here and to discuss quality-of-life issues with Air Force members.  

"We do these visits because while there are a lot of resolutions in Congress supporting the troops, we want to put something behind them," said Edwards.  "This is our chance to hear their concerns."  

Childcare was one of the more important issues to those present judging by the questions asked. One of the biggest concerns was that there was not enough childcare to go around.  

"When it comes to the military, you have all of these different groups lobbying for more weaponry, better airplanes and those types of things, but no one is lobbying for a child development center," said Edwards.  "That's why we're here."  

Airmen attending the luncheon said they were glad they had the chance to be heard, and hoped it would make a difference.  

"[Edwards] was interested in all the right things," said Tech. Sgt. Dana Pecor, TRICARE Flight noncommissioned officer in charge, from Wichita Falls, Texas, Edwards' congressional stomping ground. "I really appreciated the opportunity to talk to all them," she said.   

Pecor said that one of the things she was most excited about was talk from the congressman on a bill that would allow military members and their dependents to have in-state tuition at any state university, not just in the state they are a resident.   

"Military people move around so much that they often haven't been to their actual home state in quite some time," said Edwards.  "Meanwhile their children establish ties to another state where they'd like to attend college, but might not be able to afford to do so. 

Both the military personnel and their family members make so many sacrifices already, I think we should at least allow them and their children flexibility in where they go to school."   

Staff Sgt. Mark Hamilton, a fabrications flight inspector with the 31st Maintenance Group quality assurance office, said he also was glad to have the chance to voice his opinion.  

"It's hard for [the congressmen] to know the issues we face as military members unless they've lived it," Hamilton said.  "But it really did seem like [Edwards] was looking for resolution on the issues we brought up, not just asking questions," said the Northeast Texas native.  

Knollenberg is the chairman of the House Appropriations sub-committee on Military Construction; Edwards is also a member.  Lewis is on the Ways and Means and Veterans Affairs committees giving all three of them influence on how, and where, military dollars are spent.