Senator Murray to Secretary Gates: Fairchild Wing Command Headquarters Should Be Priority

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray
(D-WA) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urging him to add the
Wing Command Headquarters building at Fairchild Airforce Base to the list of
priorities for the Future Years Defense Program. Especially now, the
construction of the new Wing Command Headquarters is critically important as
the building is planned to house the active duty 92^nd Air Refueling
Wing and the Washington Air National Guard 141^st Air Refueling Wing
Headquarters.

“Over
the years I have seen how the current building is in need of repair.  The
building has a large list of deficiencies including life safety, fire safety,
force protection, electrical, mechanical, energy, and Americans with Disabilities
Act code deficiencies,” wrote
Senator Murray. 

Adding the Wing Command Headquarters to the Future Years
Defense Program ensures that the Air Force will continue investing in Fairchild
Air Force base and prioritize the construction of this facility. As a senior
member of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray
secured $4.8 million for a Precision
Measurement Equipment Laboratory at the Fairchild Airforce Base in the
Fiscal Year 2011 Military Construction Appropriations bill.

The full text of the letter appears below:

The
Honorable Robert Gates

Secretary of Defense

U.S. Department of Defense

Washington, DC 20301-1000

Dear
Secretary Gates:

I am
writing in regard to the Wing Command Headquarters at Fairchild Air Force
Base.  As you know, Fairchild Air Force Base has requested for the past
ten years that the Wing Command Headquarters building be added to the Future
Years Development Program.  The existing facility was built in 1943 and it
is not economically feasible to restore it to meet the current requirements.

Over
the years I have seen how the current building is in need of repair.  The
building has a large list of deficiencies including life safety, fire safety,
force protection, electrical, mechanical, energy, and Americans with
Disabilities Act code deficiencies.

This
change is especially important now, as the Wing Command Headquarters building
is planned to house the headquarters for both the active duty 92^nd
Air Refueling Wing and the Washington Air National Guard 141^st Air
Refueling Wing Headquarters.  We owe it to these Commands to provide an
appropriate and efficient building that meets their requirements in order to
best benefit them as they jointly operate.

Therefore,
as you consider priorities for the Future Years Development Program, I strongly
encourage the inclusion of construction funding for this important
facility.  I look forward to partnering with you to continue to help
Fairchild Air Force Base meet the demands being placed upon it and continue to
modernize to meet the needs of our airman and women.