WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, as well as Representatives Brad Finstad (MN-01), Angie Craig (MN-02), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), and Pete Stauber (MN-08) in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Director of Air National Guard Lieutenant General Michael Loh recommending the Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force select the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota National Guard to receive new C-130J transport planes.
“The 133rd Airlift Wing C-130 fleet supports a wide range of military operations, including crucial homeland security missions. We urge Air Force leadership to support this mission by making the 133rd Airlift Wing the home for the C-130Js,” Emmer said.
By selecting the 133rd Airlift Wing, the aging C-130H Hercules transport planes would be replaced with new C-130J aircraft. By modernizing the C-130H fleet, the 133rd Airlift Wing will maintain its capability to successfully execute crucial missions, enhancing our nation's security and capacity to address both domestic and international challenges.
The full text of the letter is available here.
Background:
Emmer has long been a supporter of the C-130 mission of the 133rd Airlift Wing. Earlier this year, he visited the 133rd Airlift Wing at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station. In August of 2021, Emmer led a letter with the entire Minnesota Congressional Delegation to Secretary Kendall and General Brown of the United States Air Force to underscore their concerns with proposed reductions of the C-130 fleet.
The 133rd Airlift Wing, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, has demonstrated exemplary standards in recruitment, retention, and mission readiness since its establishment in 1921. Located at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, one of the largest hubs in the United States, the 133rd Airlift Wing has the advantage of supporting a robust personnel strength and achieving performance percentages that rank among the highest in the nation. From this strategic location, the Wing can swiftly deploy to offer care and transportation to injured individuals between medical treatment facilities, as well as essential support for domestic, humanitarian, and deployed combat operations.
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