The growing missions at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) scaled a big hurdle today as the 2019 NDAA cleared the U.S. House Armed Services Committee this morning. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) led efforts by the bipartisan Tampa Bay Congressional Delegation to include infrastructure investments at MacDill AFB. U.S. Rep. Castor also championed other investments for our military, their families and our community, including a boost in pay and expansion in the expertise and faculty at U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Joint Special Operations University. In addition, the NDAA prohibits any Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) by the Department of Defense.

“MacDill AFB missions and service members are central to the Tampa Bay area’s economy and our national security. The 2019 NDAA includes $3.1 million for the KC-135 beddown to add flight simulator training at MacDill AFB and hopefully other infrastructure investments will follow,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “In addition, a 2.6 percent pay raise for military members and authorization for JSOU to expand their expertise and faculty are vital to the needs of our Special Operators and the aircraft, Air Force personnel, and all the families and members of our patriotic community that support MacDill.”

U.S. Rep. Castor announced another win this week for Tampa Bay. In the Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations bill, which advanced out of the full U.S. House Appropriations Committee, ongoing collaborations were recognized and continued between VA medical centers and NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers – like Moffitt Cancer & Research Center – so that our veterans in Tampa Bay and throughout the nation have access to the highest quality cancer care.

MacDill AFB is home to SOCOM and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), two of the Armed Forces’ most important military command outposts. MacDill’s 6th Air Mobility Wing is the centerpiece of the U.S. Air Force’s Global Vigilance, Global Reach, Global Power mission with its essential functions of aerial refueling and airlift. The scale of MacDill’s missions have rapidly increased with the recent expansion of eight new KC-135 tankers and related service members. MacDill’s mission is vital to keeping America safe and ready for any contingencies we may face as a nation.  U.S. Rep. Castor serves as Vice Ranking member of the powerful U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee and earlier in her tenure served on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.

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