U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on U.S. Air Force Announcement of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's Truax Field as a Finalist for Deployment of New Fighter Jets
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement today in response to an announcement from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) that the Wisconsin Air National Guard's Truax Field has been named a finalist for the deployment of new fighter jets:
“We are proving ourselves to be a very strong competitor and I am going to continue my work being a leading advocate for the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax,” said Senator Baldwin. “I have been proud to play a lead role with the Wisconsin Congressional delegation and be a part of a team effort on this.”
This afternoon, the U.S. Air Force announced that the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s Truax Field is one of five bases—out of 18 that were considered—that has been selected as a candidate to host one of the next two units of F-35 fighter aircraft. Truax Field will now be the subject of a USAF site survey and a further senior level review over the winter, which will result in the USAF selection in the spring of the two preferred locations and the two reasonable alternative locations for the F-35 basing process.
Senator Baldwin has played a leading role organizing the Wisconsin Congressional delegation’s support for the Truax effort. In June, Senator Baldwin sent two letters to the U.S. Air Force in support of the effort to base the F-35 mission at Truax Field.
In addition to the contributions to our nation’s and Wisconsin’s security, basing the F-35 mission at Truax Field would maintain the more than 1,650 jobs to which the 115th currently contributes, as well as the continuity of services the unit provides to the city and state, while also benefiting regional retail, healthcare, real estate, food services and construction industries. Indeed, over the lifetime of the F-35 mission, there is an estimated economic impact of $4.8 billion.
