Congresswomen Kathy Hochul visits Niagara Falls Reserve Station Published Jan. 31, 2012 By Senior Master Sgt. Ray Lloyd 107th Airlift Wing Niagara Falls Reserve Station -- On Tuesday, Jan 31st, Congresswomen Kathy Hochul representing the 26th District of New York visited the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. She met with Col. Jim McCready, 107th Airlift Wing Commander, and Col. Allen Swartzmiller, 914th Airlift Wing Commander, to discuss the proposed Department of Defense budget cuts and hold a press conference with local media. The DOD wants to cut $250 billion from its budget. To date there is no information on what the cuts will be. Congresswomen Hochul said the base has invested over $180 million in new construction with a new fire and rescue facility, Armed Forces Reserve Center and the current construction of a joint federal firing range. She is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and is working proactively with other state representatives to keep the base from being affected by these cuts. As a result of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) of 2005, the 107AW lost its KC-135R aircraft and associated with the 914AW flying and maintaining the C-130H aircraft. Both units recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan where they flew over 1,500 missions. The 107AW as part of the New York Air National Guard also responds to state disasters as well as federal contingencies.