WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted yesterday to reject the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Akin currently co-chairs the House Armed Services GAP panel, which is designed to assess the future needs of the United States military as it faces future asymmetric threats in the war against terrorism. The measure failed to pass the house by a vote of 324-85.
“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I understand that the Department of Defense needs to have the authority and flexibility to realign its forces to have maximum efficiency as well as capability, yet this proposal goes beyond cutting the fat and goes into the muscle of our military readiness,” said Akin. “I am deeply committed to fiscal responsibility, but not at the expense of the security of our country.
“Closer to home, the closing of the 131st Fighter Wing in St. Louis makes no sense. The decision to relocate a fighter wing from such an experienced and successful group of veteran pilots flies in the face of common sense and seems to be an attempt by the Air Force to redefine the role of the Air National Guard than it is with promoting national defense,” Akin concluded.
