Political Quotes

“I would like to use my time to raise awareness that a correctly sized and properly configured maintenance facility to support and repair F-35 aircraft coming to the 187th Fighter Wing is needed very soon at Dannelly Field in Montgomery, Alabama. The 187th Fighter Wing was selected as a preferred location for the bed-down of the F-35, with the first aircraft to arrive in several years. Squadron operations require administrative, training, and support space as part of the aircraft organizational maintenance shop. Currently, the existing facilities that service the F-16 Red Tails squadron are inadequate. Aircraft maintenance currently resides in three temporary facilities or trailers. Much of the space designated for these functions is less than required for effective operations. The aircraft maintenance shops are 43 percent undersized, and the required tool storage is kept in aircraft parking spaces in the hangar. I appreciate very much the committee chairwoman and ranking member's efforts to provide our men and women in uniform adequate and acceptable working spaces so they can do their jobs accurately and effectively. It is my hope that, moving forward, we will continue to work together on this particular issue through the fiscal year 2020 appropriations process. Again, I, too, thank the chairwoman and, certainly, the ranking member for yielding me this very important time.”