Republican Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe has recommended reopening the U.S. military base on Vieques Island in Puerto Rico as Congress considers legislation to address Puerto Rico’s debt crisis. For decades, the Navy used nearly three-quarters of Vieques for bombing practice, war games and dumping old munitions, leading to lasting environmental damage. The Navy ended training operations in 2003 following a massive civil disobedience campaign. But speaking this week, Senator Inhofe suggested reopening the base on Vieques would benefit the U.S. military and the Puerto Rican economy.

Sen. Jim Inhofe: “I would think that any kind of a deal that is made is going to have to include consideration for the training that is still available. I mean, there’s still no range like Vieques anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. What can be done in Vieques cannot be done on one location by a joint force.”

Senator Inhofe is best known for bringing a snowball to the floor of the Senate in an effort to debunk global warming.