NOTICIAS

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to Senate Committee on Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK) urging them to ensure the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) protects the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) commitment to rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base as the F-35 base of the future. Specifically, the Chairman’s mark, which is scheduled for committee consideration this week, contains a provision that would jeopardize the strategic basing of three F-35 squadrons at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida.
 
“It is my understanding that language is included in the Chairman’s mark of the FY22 NDAA that would prohibit the divestment of 41 A-10 aircraft at the expense of Tyndall’s F-35 squadrons,” Rubio wrote. “As you know, the A-10 is a close air support aircraft designed to operate in a non-contested air warfare environment. The F-35 is our fifth generation fighter designed to meet and beat our near peer competitors in kinetic air warfare. As the United States continues to pivot our forces to focus on a near peer conflict, we must prioritize our next generation capabilities.”
 
Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael in October 2018, Rubio worked closely with the administration, and his colleagues, to build support to rebuild Tyndall AFB. The reconstructed base will serve as a strategic hub of the future for F-35 based air warfare.
 
El texto de la carta en inglés está aquí. is below:
 
Dear Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Inhofe:
 
As the Senate Committee on Armed Services is set to mark-up the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), I urge the committee to withdraw, and/or deny, any provision or funding that would counter the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) commitment to rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) as the F-35 base of the future.
 
As you know, on October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida’s panhandle as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds in excess of 160 miles per hour. The storm devastated much of Northwest Florida, including Tyndall AFB, and the community continues the process of rebuilding. While this storm was catastrophic, it provided the U.S. Air Force with a unique opportunity. Tyndall AFB is now being reconstructed as a strategic hub of the future for F-35 based air warfare. The installation will be a force multiplier to the skill and capacity of the Air Force’s F-35 pilots. To date, this committee has been instrumental in securing the resources necessary to rebuild Tyndall, and I appreciate your leadership over the past three years.
 
It is my understanding that language is included in the Chairman’s mark of the FY22 NDAA that would prohibit the divestment of 41 A-10 aircraft at the expense of Tyndall’s F-35 squadrons. As you know, the A-10 is a close air support aircraft designed to operate in a non-contested air warfare environment. The F-35 is our fifth generation fighter designed to meet and beat our near peer competitors in kinetic air warfare. As the United States continues to pivot our forces to focus on a near peer conflict, we must prioritize our next generation capabilities. As such, I urge the committee to remove, or reject, any provision or funding that would jeopardize the strategic basing of three F-35 squadrons at Tyndall. Including such language would have significant impact on the Air Force’s F-35 pilot output, our strategic capacity to field F-35s in the event of a conflict, and have grave, long-term implications for the national security of the United States.
 
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
 
Related: 

• December 9, 2020: Rubio Secures Critical Provisions for Northwest Florida Military Installations in Defense Bill
• October 9, 2020: Rubio Urges Esper to Ensure Full Recovery for Tyndall AFB
• June 26, 2020: Rubio Secures Critical Provisions for Florida in Defense Bill
• December 17, 2019: Rubio Applauds Senate Passage of FY20 NDAA, Securing Critical Provisions for Florida
• September 12, 2019: Rubio Secures Critical Funding for Florida in Energy and Water Development and Defense Appropriations Bills
• August 14, 2019: Rubio Holds Hearing on Hurricane Michael’s Lingering Effects on Northwest Florida’s Small Businesses
• August 6, 2019: Rubio Applauds U.S. Air Force Announcement on Tyndall Air Force Base Being the Prime Location for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
• June 27, 2019: Rubio Applauds Senate Passage of 2020 National Defense Authorization Act
• March 28, 2019: Rubio Files Amendments to Disaster Supplemental to Increase Aid to Florida Communities
• December 14, 2018: Rubio, Nelson, Dunn Urge Colleagues to Support Funding to Rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base
• December 7, 2018: Rubio Welcomes Air Force Recommendation to Rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base
• October 29. 2018: Rubio Joins Florida Delegation In Urging Secretary Mattis To Restore Tyndall Air Force Base Following Hurricane Michael
• October 22, 2018: Rubio Urges DoD To Restore Tyndall F-22 Raptors Damaged During Hurricane Michael
• October 15, 2018: Following Hurricane Michael, Rubio & Colleagues Urge POTUS To Commit To Full Recovery of Tyndall Air Force Base
• October 12, 2018: Following Hurricane Michael, Rubio & Colleagues Urge DoD To Expedite Restoration of Tyndall Air Force Base