RECOGNITION OF REPRESENTATIVE JOEL HEFLEY UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SEC. 2002. RECOGNITION OF REPRESENTATIVE JOEL HEFLEY UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.(a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings:(1) Representative Joel Hefley was elected to represent Colorado’s 5th Congressional district in 1986 and has served in the House of Representatives since that time with distinction, class, integrity, and honor.(2) Representative Hefley has served on the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives for 18 years, including service as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities from 1995 through 2000 and, since 2001, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness.(3) Representative Hefley’s colleagues know him to be a fair and effective lawmaker who works for the national interest while never forgetting his Western roots.(4) Representative Hefley’s efforts on the Committee on Armed Services have been instrumental to the military value of, and quality of life at, installations in the State of Colorado, including Fort Carson, Cheyenne Mountain, Peterson Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base, Buckley Air Force Base, and the United States Air Force Academy.(5) Representative Hefley was a leader in efforts to retain and expand Fort Carson as an essential part of the national defense system during the Defense Base Closure and Realignment process.(6) Representative Hefley has consistently advocated for providing members of the Armed Forces and their families with quality, safe, and affordable housing and supportive communities.(7) As a primary architect of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, Representative Hefley helped lead 120 STAT. 2445 congressional efforts to establish this initiative to eliminate inadequate housing on military installations, and the first pilot program was located at Fort Carson.(8) Representative Hefley’s leadership on the Military Housing Privatization Initiative has allowed for the privatization of more than 121,000 units of military family housing, which brought meaningful improvements to living conditions for thousands of members of the Armed Forces and their spouses and children at installations throughout the United States.(b) Recognition.—Congress recognizes and commends Representative Joel Hefley for his 20 years of service to benefit the people of Colorado, members of the Armed Forces and their families, veterans, and the United States.