Murkowski Amplifies Eielson Fight to Defense Bill Conference Members
Senator: Structure Commission “Should Work With - But Not For - the Air Force”
Senator Lisa Murkowski today reached out to the key members of the Senate and House Committees in charge of addressing the differences between the two chambers’ versions of the National Defense Authorization Act, urging them to keep provisions in place that support her fight against the proposal to move the F-16 Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
In one letter (attached) directly from her to the Armed Services Committee heads, Senator Murkowski explained the “hastily conceived Backdoor BRAC” attempted by the United States Air Force, and the critical need for certain passages in the bill – including her amendment pushing any move to 2014 – to protect the base and Fairbanks community from the short-sighted and poorly-researched proposal.
Senator Murkowski also joined several of her U.S. Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter (attached) stressing the need for the independence of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force created in this year’s defense bill – so that an objective assessment of Air Force proposed cuts and changes can be determined, closing:
“We believe that an independent Commission is the only manner in which this controversy can be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. The Commission should work with – but not for – the Air Force … to produce a report that proposes the best way forward for our Nation.”
