A consolidated stealth operations and nuclear alert facility will be built at Whiteman Air Force Base near Warrensburg. West Central Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Missouri) said a $1.1 trillion spending package passed last week by Congress includes funding for the project.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) Photo courtesy of U.S. House of Representatives
“They house all the B-2 bomber operations and this has been something the commanders have been wanting and they have been needing at Whiteman Air Force Base for a long time,” said Hartzler.
The bill passed also includes building in Missouri twelve of the Navy’s primary fighter jets.
“These are the Navy’s number one attack aircraft and they need more of them with all of the operations,” said Hartzler.
Hartzler is pleased that Congress increased funding for national defense.
“Not that we have all the funding that we need to replace all the cuts that we’ve had over the last few years, but we will have stable increased funding for the next two years,” said Hartzler.
The bill provides an additional $1.3 billion for operations to counter the Islamic State group, following the Obama administration’s announcement that 9,800 troops will remain in Afghanistan through most of 2016. It also includes $572.7 billion in defense spending, roughly the amount the Obama administration requested.
The bill’s $514.1 billion in base discretionary funding would be $23.9 billion more than the amount allocated in fiscal 2015.
