In an updated map released by Fort Benning in January, Russell County is one of the areas the military post would like to look into acquiring.
Congressman Rogers said, “They’re going to buy land. Now I don't know if they are going to stick to the 30,000 acres I’ve been hearing, if they need more or less. But they will have a significantly larger footprint in Alabama than they've had historically.”
Fort Benning is looking for a total 83,000 acres to train their soldiers. The land study is still in preliminary stages. Congressman Rogers’ appointment to The Armed Services Committee makes this issue a priority.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a release about President Obama’s Department of Defense proposed budget, he felt the allocations were the minimal level necessary given the current security challenges. As chairman of The Transportation Subcommittee of The Homeland Security Committee, Rogers says it's not enough.
“It increased defense spending for the last 6 months by 2 million dollars. That is not a cut, which is good. But it is nowhere near addressing the needs that we need both in man power, and more importantly in equipment,” Rogers said.
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