May 10, 2012

"Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to represent Selfridge Air National Guard Base which is home to the Michigan Red Devils of the 107th Fighter Squadron. The 107th flies A-10s and they recently returned from redeployment in Afghanistan where they performed so bravely and made us all proud. The 107th was one of the Air Guard units scheduled to be eliminated under the President's budget proposal, but fortunately the House Armed Services Committee will present a defense reauthorization bill next week which reverses that and saves the 107th, along with protecting the Air National Guard across the entire county. "This House is going to do the right thing for the great American Patriots of the Air National Guard by prioritizing spending within our budget, not by spending more money. I urge our colleagues in the Senate to join us. And we must remember the cuts that caused the Obama Administration to target the Air Guard were before the sequester. If the sequester is allowed to go into effect the impact on the community I represent would be immense and the defense corridor we are building, as a part of our economic revitalization, would be stopped dead in its tracks. "Not only would the National Guard again be put at risk of massive new cuts, but military contracting across the board would be faced with additional cuts. In Macomb County alone, the county that I am proud to represent as part of my congressional district, this would mean $200 million in additional cuts and would cost countless jobs in defense related corridor. "This House has taken steps to stop the devastation of our Air National Guard and now is taking steps to stop the devastation of our defense base and needless loss of jobs with common sense reforms. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting reconciliation today and the defense authorization bill that is coming to the Floor next week."