EL PASO, Texas (AP) - West Texas officials are presenting a report by the University of Texas at El Paso that says military facilities in the region contribute $5.9 billion a year to the local economy.
    
Members of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce as well as area politicians said Friday they will meet over the next few weeks with lawmakers and Pentagon officials in Washington D.C. to lobby on behalf of Fort Bliss. They're concerned about the affect automatic federal spending cuts that went into effect last week will have on the base.
    
A statement issued by Fort Bliss says the report by UTEP's Institute for Policy and Economic Development shows the base and adjacent medical center create nearly 62,000 jobs with more than $4 billion in compensation to area households.