WASHINGTON (AP) – Michigan’s 15 U.S. representatives and two U.S. senators are asking Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to put his department’s Midwestern headquarters at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
In a letter sent to Ridge late last week, Michigan’s delegation said Selfridge, in Macomb County’s Harrison Township north of Detroit, is a prime location because of the region’s massive industrial capacity and its busy border crossings.
The base has easy access to the Great Lakes through Lake St. Clair and has space for the buildings the government would need, the letter said.
“Selfridge is currently playing a key role in the homeland security efforts of state and local government and the transition to an expanded role can be accomplished quickly and with a lower degree of cost than other installations,” delegation members said in the letter.
President Bush has called for regional homeland security centers in his 2004 budget proposal, but it is not clear how those sites will be selected.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment Monday.
U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, whose district includes Selfridge, said she was pleased that the entire delegation signed the letter.