Congressman Rob Bishop, representing Utah’s District 1 which includes northeastern Utah, is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee which recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act. Bishop shares that “Utah’s defense community is strong. This legislation further strengthens and solidifies Hill Air Force Base as central to the Air Force Mission to fly, fight and win. Upon final passage, the airmen and civilian workforce at Hill will have even greater resources to allow them to continue being the best in the world at what they do.” Some of the provisions include the elimination of the 180-day “Cool Off” period for veterans. It has full funding for The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, the next generation of nuclear deterrence that will bring jobs, updates, and resources to Utah. One provision that could have a big impact for the Uintah Basin is the establishment of a Western Emergency Refined Petroleum Reserve. Western states are not prepared for a disruptive disaster scenario that would interrupt production and delivery of refined fuel products. This provision creates an emergency fuel reserve. It aims to assure that millions of people, airports, military bases, and first responders throughout the west have sufficient fuel supplies in times of emergency.
