Menendez, Booker Applaud Inclusion of $158M for JBMDL in Military Spending Bill

Statement

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today applauded final inclusion in a military spending bill of $158 million in critical funding for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) to further its mission as a power projection platform. The senators had requested this funding to support the new KC-46A air refueling tankers and to expand the Navy Reserve airfield.

"Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is indispensable to both our national security and to New Jersey's economy, and this important funding will help ensure its vitality for years to come," said Sen. Menendez. "The Joint Base is both strategically and geographically situated to be the perfect home for the KC-46A next generation refueling tanker. This is an important step in the appropriations process. I will continue to push for final passage, and look forward to seeing the progress that this funding will provide for the base and its surrounding communities."

"Today is another important milestone in ensuring that the Air Force has the capability it needs to keep our country secure," Sen. Booker said. "JBMDL's strong track record in tanker and airlift operations, its prime location, and the thousands of military flight hours our service men and women perform each year ensures the base is the right choice for the KC-46. By taking action today to fund this tanker mission, the Senate has recognized this fact and taken another step forward to bring jobs and economic opportunity to JBMDL and New Jersey."

The FY18 Military Construction-VA Appropriations bill contains the following funding for the Joint Base, the nation's only tri-service joint installation--home to Air Force, Army and Navy operations--and the second largest employer in New Jersey:

Source