Congressmen praise air logistics center following tour Published Feb. 28, 2006 By Lanorris Askew 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center hosted a tour for U.S. congressional delegates Feb. 16. The group, comprised of U.S. Sens. Orrin Hatch and Robert Bennett (both of Utah), as well as U.S. Sen. James Inhofe and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (both of Oklahoma), sang the praises of the center during a press conference following a tour of the C-5 and C-17 maintenance facilities, the 402nd Electronics Maintenance Group and the 116th Air Control Wing. Each member spoke highly of the new sense of cooperation among the remaining three air logistics centers. "I don't think a lot of you realize what a great success story Warner Robins is now," said Senator Inhofe. "The reason you are doing so much C-5 work is because you have competed for it very successfully, and I would anticipate you'll be competing for C-17 work, and the future looks very good." Representative Cole, who was making his first trip to Robins, said the ALCs are taxpayer dollars well spent. "I hope all Americans realize how vital these facilities are in our communities," he said. "We tend to think of them in our communities as important economic engines and wonderful employers, but the reality is the ability to wage and win wars all over the world begins with these kinds of facilities. The ability to project power beyond the continental United States and keep us safe here is because we have facilities like this. No other country in the world can match these ALCs. They are a marvel across the planet." Senator Hatch called Robins a very impressive base. "They are on top of things here," he said. "They know what they are doing and they're doing their very best to make sure everything runs efficiently and well and they're having remarkable success. You've got some of the greatest minds here ... and we're very impressed." Senator Bennett agreed. "It's been a very valuable day," he said. "The future is very bright. I don't see anything on the horizon that says the ALCs are not in the American military structure for good now." After leaving Robins the delegation toured the ALCs at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and Hill Air Force Base, Utah.