Contact Your Congressional Delegation
Please feel free to use the sample letter below to contact Idaho's Congressional Delegation. Thank You.
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I write to express my strong support for the Idaho Air National Guard and the continuation of its flying mission in support of its vital role in America’s national defense. The Air Force’s proposal to retire the A-10 fighter aircraft based at Gowen Field in Boise and not replace it with a flying mission would forfeit the special advantages of Gowen’s close proximity to superior training ranges, minimal noise and environmental issues, well-maintained and ready facilities and cost effective operating agreements. Gowen Field is a vital and unique military asset that cannot be duplicated without significant and unnecessary costs to the taxpayer. When evaluated objectively and compared to other military installations, Gowen has repeatedly been identified as a facility that should be preserved or expanded. Together, the Idaho Air National Guard and Gowen Field make the perfect location for a Guard F-35 base to support the strategic focus on the Pacific and the Far East.
Moving the Idaho Air National Guard to Mountain Home Air Force Base does not make fiscal, economic, or strategic sense. Gowen’s geographic location alone provides the reason for keeping a flying mission there. Co-location would fracture the unit cohesion of the 124th Fighter Wing and degrade its readiness. This decision has been justified as a cost savings measure; however, there has been no objective analysis of the actual costs associated with such a move. If the Air Force needs to find savings through reduced staffing or closing facilities, it needs to evaluate all options on a national level through an open, objective, non-partisan, and independent review and analysis of its military installations. This is what the Base Closure process is for, with public participation and Congressional oversight. The Air Force’s A-10 proposal circumvents that process and Congressional approval. Understandably, times of fiscal uncertainty and budget constraints require difficult decisions. However, co-locating the Idaho Air National Guard to Mountain Home Air Force Base is the wrong choice for our country, our community and our service members. I respectfully urge you to prevent the retirement of the A-10 (which is being used right now in our fight against ISIL) until a follow-on manned flying mission is assigned to the Idaho Air National Guard and Gowen Field. Respectfully, |
Senator Mike Crapo
Phone: (202) 224-6142 239 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator James E. Risch (202) 224-2752 483 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Congressman Mike Simpson Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District Phone (202) 225-5531 2312 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Congressman Raúl Labrador Idaho’s 1st Congressional District Phone (202) 225-6611 1523 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 |
