Gov. Mike Rounds Statement on Removal of Ellsworth Air Force Base from BRAC Closure List

Gov. Mike Rounds Statement on Removal of Ellsworth Air Force Base from BRAC Closure List

Gov. Mike Rounds has issued the following statement from Washington, D.C. regarding the vote of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) to remove Ellsworth Air Force Base from the closure list:

"We are obviously very pleased that the BRAC Commissioners have voted to recommend to the President that Ellsworth Air Force Base be retained," said Gov. Rounds. "Ellsworth has been an integral part of the Black Hills for over sixty years and the military and civilian personnel who have been and are now assigned there have been woven into our community."

"We believe the Commissioners are correct in rejecting the proposal of the Secretary of Defense," Rounds added. "Their acceptance of the arguments we made on behalf of protecting our nation's premier long range bomber fleet is a real victory."

Rounds praised those involved, saying "We applaud our Congressional Delegation and staff for their outstanding teamwork on behalf of Ellsworth, Western South Dakota and our nation's defenses. Likewise, our legislators, mayors, county commissioners, and countless individuals are to be applauded for their steadfast support of the Ellsworth Task Force, our military and its personnel. On behalf of the Ellsworth Task Force, we thank each of you for your unified message and the role that you played in our success."

http://www.state.sd.us/governor/