U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS' AMENDMENT KEEPS AIR NATIONAL GUARD JOBS IN TUCSON

Fighter jet maintenance work to remain at the 162nd Fighter Wing

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has succeeded in stopping the Air Force from moving an F-16 fighter jet maintenance facility out of Tucson, saving an estimated 200 jobs.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Giffords was able to add an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act which halts the consolidation of jet maintenance operations at all Air National Guard bases nationwide. The amendment requires the Air Force to receive approval from the Air National Guard before any maintenance operation is closed.

"The consolidation of maintenance facilities does not make sense," said Giffords. "Across the country, Air National Guard units like the 162nd Fighter Wing have maintenance personnel working on the same type of aircraft, and in some cases, the same tail number for their entire careers. They know these planes inside and out, and that makes them an incredible resource. Unlike active duty personnel, who are typically retained and transferred from base to base, guard members are deeply rooted in their communities and have often been serving with the same unit for their entire career. The removal of these jobs in guard units would likely result in a permanent loss of these highly-experienced professionals nationwide. Many of them will simply be unable or unwilling to move to a new city and a new unit. When they leave the guard, that experience and expertise is lost, and a valuable resource is lost along with it."

If the consolidation program proposed by the Air Force had gone forward, the 162nd would have lost 200 highly experienced maintenance personnel. This unit is responsible for international pilot training on the F-16, and supports the Air Sovereignty Alert mission in the southwestern United States. It has a stellar safety record, operating with an accident rate roughly 50 percent lower than the rest of the military's F-16 force.

In recent weeks Giffords held several meetings on Capitol Hill with dozens of members of Congress who have National Guard units in their district to discuss the Air Force proposal and marshal their help. She organized a meeting with top-level Pentagon officials and senior congressmen from the Armed Services Committee to insist that the Air Force consolidation plan be scrapped. While those discussions continue, Giffords crafted her amendment to address the problem legislatively. In the district, the congresswoman met with the executive committee of the 162nd Minutemen Committee, a bipartisan civilian support group.

"I have had the privilege of being affiliated with the 162nd for many years through its civilian support community relations organization," said Giffords. "I am convinced that its safety record is due in no small part to the highly-experienced maintenance crews that repair and maintain the aircraft stationed in Tucson. Removing close to 200 of these skilled service men and women at a time when the readiness of the U.S. military and its equipment are already in jeopardy is unacceptable."

Giffords' effort is winning praise from Brigadier General Rick Moisio, commander of the 162nd, and Izaro Urreiztieta, president of the 162nd Minutemen Committee.

"I appreciate Congresswoman Giffords" advocacy," said Moisio. "I am working with her to make sure our operation here retains the experienced manpower that is essential to maintaining a healthy aircraft fleet. Tremendous safety margins are a hallmark of the Air National Guard. We are determined to keep it that way.

Urreiztieta echoed Moisio's view. "I applaud Congresswoman Giffords in her efforts to help the guard have a voice in the consolidation plans. Our local guard has years and years of experience that could be lost with consolidation. Some guard mechanics have 20 years experience working on the same model aircraft and their experience level is difficult to match. From a readiness standpoint, I do not think losing these experienced men and women is in our country's best interest."

The act, H.R. 5658, is expected to pass the full Armed Services committee late tonight after all amendments have been considered. It also calls for a much-needed 3.9 percent pay raise for members of the armed forces, $2.6 billion for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and $947 million for up-armored humvees.