Durbin Meets with Nominee for Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Lieutenant General Lichte

Press Release

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today met with Lieutenant General Arthur Lichte who has been nominated to receive a fourth star and to take command of Air Mobility Command (AMC) at Scott Air Force Base. AMC is responsible for all airlift and aerial refueling for the U.S. military including the Active Duty, Reserve, and Air National Guard components.

"I was honored to meet with Lieutenant General Arthur Lichte today," said Durbin. "I look forward to working with him and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation to support AMC's worldwide mission that is so vital to the success and safety of our military men and women."

Scott AFB is the largest employer south of Springfield and is the fourth largest employer in the St. Louis region. It is estimated that Scott has an annual local and regional economic impact of well over $2 billion.

On February 26, Durbin (D-IL) and Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) visited Scott Air Force Base (AFB) to welcome the first of three new C-40 aircraft to its new home with the 932nd Air Wing. The three legislators secured $265.3 million to expand the mission of the 932nd at Scott as part of the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2005. A second C-40 aircraft arrived in June and the third is scheduled for December.

Acquiring the C-40s was the centerpiece of a plan to keep the 932nd at Scott and the 1,000 reservists and civilians employed by the wing - as well as the $27 million the wing contributes annually to the local economy - after funding was eliminated for the C-9s in 2003. In addition to securing the planes, Durbin, Costello and Shimkus have added tens of millions of dollars to maintain the C-9s and prepare for the C-40 mission. The C-40 is the military version of the 737 and has numerous airlift capabilities.

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