State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) commented on the first meeting of the House Military Affairs Study Committee. Rep. Blackmon served as the local site Chair of the study committee’s first meeting, which was held at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, and featured a keynote address from Senator Saxby Chambliss.

“Robins Air Force Base, being the first site visit for the study committee on Military Affairs, is a big deal for our community,” said Rep. Blackmon.  “Locally, we know the economic impact for Houston County and Middle Georgia, and this was a terrific opportunity to share the nearly $3 billion statewide impact, as well as the more than 20,000 defense jobs that is Robins Air Force Base with members of the General Assembly from all over our state. Our aim is to ensure the state is doing all it can to support our military population and the defense industry in Georgia, as well as position our defense communities for growth. We would like to thank Speaker Ralston and Chairman Belton for making this possible.”

This fifteen member study committee, Chaired by State Representative Dave Belton (R-Buckhead), is established by House Resolution 1135 and will examine how to protect Georgia’s military installations from a future federal base realignment and closure action.