Torres Tours Abandoned National Guard Station at Ontario International Airport to Highlight Her Legislation to Strengthen Aviation Industry
Many of the nation's airports, including Ontario International Airport, previously or currently shared space with facilities from our Armed Services; many of these sites have sat largely unchanged for decades due to the environmental hazards of demolition
Torres's tour comes on the heels of the House's passage of two of her legislative proposals to make better use of vacant military facilities and reduce airport noise
ONTARIO, CA – Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) recently visited the Ontario International Airport to discuss the need to improve the upkeep and efficiency of local airports. Ontario International Airport shared space with the Ontario Air National Guard Station, which remained in operation for decades, assisting training and support for Korean, Vietnam, and countless other wars and conflicts. In 1997, the facility closed and the site sat unchanged for twenty years. On the tour, Torres met with airport officials and viewed the National Guard barracks and airplane hangar and touted the benefits her recently passed legislative proposals would have on Ontario International Airport's ability to remove and improve these unused military facilities.
Torres's first proposal would create an Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program to allow the Department of Defense to provide additional funding for airport improvements at vacant facilities, including those located in Ontario. The second proposal would study the economic impacts of airport noise on communities near busy airports.
"My tour of Ontario International Airport provided me with an invaluable firsthand look at the needs of our local airports. From removing hazardous lead-based paint to developing sites that have sat unused and vacant decades after our armed services moved out, it's clear we should be doing more to improve and invest in these facilities," said Torres. "This visit underscored the importance of the legislative proposals I've put forth to make it easier for our airports to regain control of these valuable resources, provide stability for our nation's aviation community, and create jobs to strengthen American competitiveness in aviation."
Torres is a member of the powerful Rules Committee and the Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Budget Task Force, and represents California's 35th congressional district, which includes Ontario International Airport. One of her first accomplishments upon being elected to Congress was returning the airport to local control—which has already resulted in more flights and options for the residents of the Inland Empire.
Photo Caption 1: Congresswoman Torres tours the "old" National Guard airplane hangar with Ontario International Airport Chief Operating Officer Bruce Atlas. Behind her is a column of grey insulation contaminated with asbestos. Download here.
Photo Caption 2: Congresswoman Torres listens as Ontario Airport officials explain the costly process of lead abatement and the potential use for the property to create jobs and generate revenue for the local economy. Download here.
Photo Caption 3: An uninhabitable National Guard barrack covered in lead-based paint is pictured. Download here.
Photo Caption 4: A runway that was used by the National Guard and was once full of potential now goes unused. Download here.