06.05.17

Cantwell Statement on Air Force Decision to Put More Tankers at Fairchild Air force Base

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement after the U.S. Air Force announced that Fairchild Air Force base would be getting 12 KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling tankers.

“This is very good news that more KC-135 tankers are headed to Fairchild. We want to see a concentration of tankers remain at Fairchild because of its strategic location supporting operations in the Pacific. This decision will mean more planes, personnel and funding for Fairchild.”

In March, Senators Cantwell and Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) sent a letter to Lisa Disbrow, then-Acting Secretary of the United States Air Force, expressing their support for the selection of Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, as the preferred alternative for the reassignment of the refueling tankers.

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