Senator Reverend Warnock, Georgia Lawmakers Help Secure Significant Federal Funding for Critical Repairs at Fort Benning Airfield
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), joined by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop (D, GA-02) and U.S. Representative Drew Ferguson (R, GA-03), announced that the Department of the Army recently awarded Columbus' Fort Benning the necessary $11.5 million to make storm water drainage system improvements under its Lawson Army Airfield (LAAF). In July, Senator Warnock led the lawmakers in a letter to U.S. Army leadership requesting their immediate attention to the deteriorated condition of the storm water system for LAAF, and calling on the Army to expedite the funds needed to make the required repairs. Following the letter, on August 19th, the Army awarded the federal investments to Fort Benning, ahead of the previously established timeline for the funding.
"Ensuring Lawson Army Airfield can operate today and long into the future is important not only to Fort Benning and Georgia, but also to our national security and military readiness," Senator Reverend Warnock said. "I'm glad the Army recognized the need to address the structural concerns at Fort Benning immediately, and heeded calls from me and my colleagues to make the critical investments necessary to repair the storm water system."
For nearly one hundred years, Lawson Army Airfield (LAAF) has played a central role in support of U.S. national security. LAAF provides critical support to two indispensable national security assets: the airfield is central to the training and deployment of the 75th Ranger Regiment that conducts missions in support of global operations, and the airfield facilitates the continuous training program of the Army Airborne School, which supports the Army, all joint components, and foreign partners to ensure an airborne-ready force. The airfield currently averages 44 military flights per week, and 23 civilian flights per week.
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