Baucus Statement on Defense Department's C-130 Budget Revision

Press Release

Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus issued the following statement in light of news the Defense Secretary has proposed restoring 24 C-130 cargo planes and at least 2,200 Air National Guard positions to the Air National Guard as part of the budget plan for fiscal year 2013:

"C-130s are great aircraft and there's no one better to fly them than Montana Airmen. I'm pleased to see Secretary Panetta offering to add more C-130s to the Air Guard because they provide critical support to states at a good value for taxpayers. This news further supports our effort to bring C-130's to Montana and I'll keep looking for opportunities to support the Montana Air National Guard."

Background/Recent Timeline:

Just last month, Baucus and Senator Jon Tester called a meeting with the Director of the Air National Guard Lieutenant General Wyatt to reinforce plans to bring the new C-130 flying mission to Montana.

Baucus and Tester originally secured the C-130 mission for MANG in February. As the Air Force is now considering the best way to restructure its fleet to meet new mission requirements nationwide, Baucus and Tester are pressing the Defense Department to ensure its deployment plans for Great Falls do not change and vowing not to rest "until the last of the C-130s lands in Great Falls."

March 23, 2012 - Tester, Baucus remind Defense Dept: Montana "ideal fit" for C-130s
March 15, 2012 - Baucus Tester Letter to Panetta, Pressing for Deployment Plan Clarification

Source