III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 107 

Recognizing the 70th anniversary of White Sands Missile Range in New 

Mexico and commemorating the unique place in history, and national 

security importance, of the range. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 23, 2015 

Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. UDALL) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 70th anniversary of White Sands Missile 

Range in New Mexico and commemorating the unique 

place in history, and national security importance, of 

the range. 

Whereas on September 26, 1945, White Sands Missile Range 

(at that time, known as ‘‘White Sands Proving Ground’’) 

launched its first rocket, a Tiny Tim Boomer, setting in 

motion 7 decades of world-renowned development, testing, and launches at White Sands Missile Range; 

Whereas White Sands Missile Range exists as the premier research, development, test, and evaluation facility for the 

United States and excels in supporting missile development and a diversity of other test programs for the 

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Aeronautics and Space 


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•SRES 107 IS 

Administration, other government agencies, and private 

industry; 

Whereas White Sands Missile Range employs more than 

13,000 civilians and honorable members of the Armed 

Forces, representing the Army, Navy, and Air Force; 

Whereas White Sands Missile Range is recognized as the 

‘‘Birthplace of America’s Missile and Space Activity’’ and 

holds a unique place in history as the site of the first 

atomic bomb testing, a site that later became known as 

the ‘‘Trinity Site National Historic Landmark’’; 

Whereas White Sands Missile Range remains the largest 

overland military test range in the United States, occupying 3,200 square miles of southern New Mexico, and 

the largest airspace controlled by the Department of Defense, comprising 9,600 square miles above ground, 

where the range conducts unparalleled military testing; 

Whereas White Sands Missile Range is increasingly 

partnering with Holloman Air Force Base and Fort Bliss 

to ensure that the unique assets of the region are used 

to the utmost extent to contribute to national security, 

including support of testing and training that is realistic, 

large-scale, and joint or combined; 

Whereas White Sands Missile Range is a home site of the 

Network Integration Evaluation, which is a series of 

semiannual evaluations led by members of the Armed 

Forces that are designed to further integrate and rapidly 

progress the tactical network of the Army; 

Whereas the most recent iteration of the Network Integration 

Evaluation occurred in October and November of 2014 

and involved 3,900 members of the Armed Forces, allowVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:22 Mar 23, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR107.IS SR107

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•SRES 107 IS 

ing the Army to stay on the cutting edge of technology 

and providing an invaluable resource to national defense; 

Whereas the Southern New Mexico-El Paso Joint Land Use 

Study demonstrates the strong relationship that White 

Sands Missile Range shares with Holloman Air Force 

Base and Fort Bliss in western Texas and indicates that 

the range has an annual economic impact of $1,717,289 

on the region; 

Whereas White Sands Missile Range has the distinguished 

honor of hosting the annual Bataan Memorial Death 

March, which commemorates members of the Armed 

Forces, and forces from the Philippines, who fought and 

died defending the Philippines only hours after the start 

of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and who, after 

a valiant defense of the Philippines, were captured by the 

Japanese and forced to march 65 miles without any food, 

water, or medical care, while the Japanese systematically 

abused them, leading to the deaths of many of them; and 

Whereas the mission of White Sands Missile Range remains 

as pertinent to national security in 2015 as it was in 

1945, and the range should be preserved and strengthened presently and for future generations: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commemorates the 70th anniversary of 

3 White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico; 

4 (2) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the 

5 commanders, members of the Armed Forces, civil6 ians, and other individuals who have contributed to 


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•SRES 107 IS 

1 the mission and community of White Sands Missile 

2 Range throughout its 70-year history; 

3 (3) recognizes the great impact that White 

4 Sands Missile Range has made on national security 

5 in the United States, particularly its contributions in 

6 missile defense and space technology; 

7 (4) memorializes the sacrifice made by brave 

8 members of the Armed Forces, and forces from the 

9 Philippines, who defended the Philippines and en10 dured the Bataan Death March; and 

11 (5) encourages the preservation and strength12 ening of White Sands Missile Range presently and 

13 for future generations. 

Æ 


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