Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS) is as critical to Western New York’s economy as it is to our nation’s security. The base plays a vital role in our nation’s military readiness and response capability, and provides security along our northern border. It is also Niagara County’s largest employer with over 2,600 employees, and has a total annual economic impact of more than $200 million. Brian is committed to working with our partners in the local community and the New York Congressional delegation to protect and strengthen NFARS. Brian successfully advocated to locate a C-130 simulator at the base – the only in the Northeast – and has been an integral partner in supporting the proposed construction of a new Customs and Border Protection border patrol station at the base.
More on Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
U.S. Representatives Chris Collins (NY-27) and Brian Higgins (NY-26) today released the following comments after receiving news that eight KC-135 refueling tankers will be arriving at Niagara Air Falls Reserve Station to replace the base’s aging fleet of cargo planes. The news will be made official in the President’s budget which will be released on February 9, 2016.
Congressmembers Brian Higgins (NY-26), Chris Collins (NY-27) and Louise Slaughter (NY-25) are urging the United States Air Force to consider the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS) as a new base for operation of the KC-135 mission.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representatives Brian Higgins and Chris Collins urged the Air Force to choose Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS) as a host station for the third main operating base (MOB 3) for the new KC-46A Pegasus tankers. The new tankers are used to refuel aircrafts and are vital to Air Force operations.
On the same day that he met with the Niagara Military Affairs Council in his Washington, D.C. office, Congressman Brian Higgins spoke from the House Floor to issue his continued support for preserving the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station’s place in Western New York.
Higgins cited the upcoming construction of a new C-130 flight simulator and the proposed construction of a new Customs & Border Protection border patrol station among innovative strategies to invest in the base and expand its mission for long-term sustainability.
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) spoke on the House Floor about the national security and economic importance of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station to the Western New York region, in addition to expressing his support for the proposal to construct a new Customs and Border Protection border patrol station on the base.