(Washington D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, announced an important budget win for Washington state and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI). As part of the President’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, released this morning, NASWI will receive more than $85 million in federal funding to construct P-8A facilities, further signaling the Department of Defense’s intention to locate multiple squadrons of the P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) to Washington state.
“Whidbey Island is one of our nation’s premier naval aviation installations, and I applaud the Administration’s decision to base P-8A squadrons in Washington state,” said Senator Murray. “Outfitting Whidbey Island to host Poseidon squadrons will be a boon for the local economy, and the Navy’s confidence in Whidbey Island reflects the installation’s record of excellence and strong support from the community.”
Senator Murray has been a tireless advocate for Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. She led the Washington delegation in a letter to Chief of Naval Operation Admiral Jonathan Greenert in 2011 to support consideration of Whidbey Island as a home for P-8A squadrons, and has worked closely with Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus to bring the squadrons to Washington state.
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