U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today regarding the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee's decision to include funding for the A-10 for fiscal year 2015:
"I applaud the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee for its decision to maintain A-10 funding for next fiscal year. With our nation confronting an uncertain security environment around the world and the Department of Defense facing difficult budget decisions, now is not the time to prematurely retire the Air Force's most combat-effective and cost-efficient close air support aircraft. This is great news for our ground troops who rely on effective close air support to accomplish their missions and return home safely."