Press Release: McCaskill, Blunt team up at Air National Guard Base in St. Joe to talk military budget

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt teamed up at the Missouri Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph, Mo. today for a roundtable discussion with base and community leaders to talk about the role of Missouri’s military bases in our national defense and the impact of the recently proposed Pentagon budget cuts.

McCaskill and Blunt addressed their commitment to working together to support the base in today’s changing budget environment.

“I’m thrilled to be here with my friend Senator Blunt, to signal to this community our strong support,” McCaskill said. “With both of us on the Armed Services Committee, you’ll continue to see us advocate for this facility as one that is absolutely necessary to our national defense.”

“Missouri serves an important role in the defense of our country, and the 139th Airlift Wing is especially vital to the St. Joseph community and to America’s military readiness and preparedness,” Blunt said. “I’ll continue to work closely with my friend Senator McCaskill and our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to support Rosecrans’ role as a national asset and ensure that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to protect the country.”

McCaskill and Blunt, both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, met with 30 community leaders as well as leadership from the 139^th Airlift Wing at the Air National Guard base in St. Joseph. They heard presentations from community leaders as well as the base commander, Col. Ralph Schwader, as part of a roundtable discussion about issues impacting the 139^th Airlift Wing, the Advanced Airlift Tactical Training Center (AATTC), and the region.

Last year, the Senators urged the Air Force to provide the 139^th Airlift Wing with a C-130 simulator training facility that would save taxpayer dollars and enhance the AATTC’s training capabilities. McCaskill and Blunt also have teamed up to urge the Air Force to bring additional C-130 aircraft to Rosecrans, touting the base’s “personnel, expertise, and resources to house additional aircraft.”