As Senate Democrats continue to filibuster vital defense funding, U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and John Hoeven (R-ND), co-chairs of the Senate Air Force Caucus, today reviewed Air Force operations at the world’s largest air force base.
The co-chairs visited Eglin Air Force Base, Florida and met with Lieutenant General Brad Webb, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, as well as received a series of briefings on Air Force weapons, operations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
“National security must be the federal government’s top priority. We have a responsibility to make sure our troops have everything they need to complete their missions safely and successfully, and right now Senate Democrats are failing to uphold that responsibility. Just like my regular visits with the leadership at Little Rock Air Force Base, including one just a few weeks ago, this visit helps me understand the needs of Air Force personnel. Those needs require proper funding for our military. I call on my Senate colleagues to join me in my efforts to pass the Defense and Military Construction appropriations bills,” said Boozman, a member of the Senate Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.
Senate Democrats began their filibuster of the Department of Defense appropriations bill and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which also includes critical funding to combat the spread of Zika, before the Senate’s August in-state work period. They voted to continue their filibuster of both bills when the Senate reconvened this Tuesday.
While at Eglin, Boozman and Hoeven toured the base’s research laboratories and were briefed on their newest developments, including robotic explosive ordinance disposal and dynamic conventional weapons. The two senators also received briefings on Air Force weapons deployed on the F-15, F-16 and F-35 and reviewed the capabilities of Air Force Special Operations Command assets including the CV-22 and AC-130J.
The one-day trip was part of a series of Air Force briefings and site visits organized through the Senate Air Force Caucus.
