WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) joined 66 members of Congress today in signing a bipartisan letter to the Senate and House Armed Services committees urging a continued freeze on Air Force base closure plans. The letter also asks support for a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act to create a National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force.

The commission would conduct a comprehensive study of the current structure of the Air Force to determine what changes should be made in light of emerging national security requirements.

"Despite my repeated requests for over a year, the Air Force has not provided me and my colleagues with an analysis to explain why the 911th Airlift Wing has been singled out for closure. We must get answers about how the closing of the 911th could impact our long-term military preparedness before this closure process goes any further," Sen. Toomey said. "I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to support a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that would create an independent body to finally provide such an analysis."

The full text of the letter is below:

December 7, 2012

Dear chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House Armed Services committees:

We ask for your support in conference of the continued freeze of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve force structure and manpower for the duration of fiscal year 2013, and your concurrence in establishing the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force, as contained in Title XVII of the Senate-passed National Defense Authorization Act.

All four committees of jurisdiction passed laws to prevent the Air Force's injudicious cuts proposed by its budget submission this year.

An overwhelming majority of the Congress, representing both parties and both chambers, believes that these cuts need thorough and objective evaluation before they can either be passed into law or replaced by other proposals that will better enable the Air Force to meet its mission requirements while adhering to the dictates of the Budget Control Act.

In light of the need for an objective third-party review of the Air Force budget, we reiterate our support for the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force. We believe that an independent commission is the only manner in which this controversy can be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. The commission should work with - but not for - the Air Force, the governors, the adjutants general, and the National Guard Bureau to produce a report that proposes the best way forward for our nation.

Thank you for your leadership on this bill and your attention to our requests.

Sincerely,

Pat Toomey

US Senator