Recognizing the 80th Anniversary of the Yuma Proving Ground

Floor Speech

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Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 80th anniversary of the United States Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Although the proving ground is only celebrating its 80th birthday, the land's rich history extends beyond a century. In 1850, Fort Yuma was constructed overlooking the Colorado River crossing, and 15 years later, a second facility was constructed in 1865 to act as a supply base for Army posts across the Western United States.

Fast forward 78 years later in 1943, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened the Yuma Test Branch, while General Patton selected Yuma as the site for Camp Laguna. Although this site was deactivated in 1944, it was successfully prepared ground troops for desert combat.

In 1963, the site reopened as Yuma Proving Ground with a new, affirmed mission: to provide innovative testing for new technology and provide adaptable training to the entire defense industry. Due to its overwhelming success, the site was designated as a Major Range and Test Facility Base only three years later.

The proving ground constructed the ``Cibola Range'' in 1971 for the purposes of testing helicopters, umnanned aircraft, and navigations systems. With approximately 2,000 miles of restricted airspace, Yuma Proving Ground has become a prime site for all varieties of aircraft testing. Both the Apache helicopter and the Global Position System, more commonly known as GPS, completed all their developmental testing at Yuma Proving Ground.

In addition to aircraft testing, Yuma Proving Ground offers over 200 miles of vehicle courses with a variety of road and terrain conditions. Such testing space has been utilized by the M-1 Abrams tank and the M60 Main Battle tank. All U.S. ground weapon systems deployed to Saudi Arabia during the Persian War were tested at Yuma Proving Ground.

For the past 80 years, Yuma Proving Ground has succeeded in ensuring the safe function and efficiency of military equipment for the United States defense industry. It currently employs more than 2000 Yuma residents, enabling our community to positively impact the country's national security.

It is my distinct pleasure to recognize the 80th anniversary of such an essential site in the history and success of our great state of Arizona and beyond. Congratulations to Yuma Proving Ground. I look forward to the next 80 years of triumph.

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