Michigan Congressional Delegation Members Join in Strong Support of Fort Custer for Missile Defense Site

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Members of the Michigan Congressional delegation today sent a letter to Vice Admiral James D. Syring, Director of the Missile Defense Agency, to voice their strong support of Fort Custer Training Center, one of three locations under consideration for a possible Continental United States Interceptor Site. The letter was signed by U.S. Senator Gary Peters, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Representative Fred Upton, U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence, U.S. Representative Candice Miller, U.S. Representative Mike Bishop, U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga, U.S. Representative Dan Benishek, U.S. Representative John Moolenaar, U.S. Representative Tim Walberg, U.S. Representative Dan Kildee, U.S. Representative Dave Trott, U.S. Representative Sander Levin, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell, and U.S. Representative John Conyers.

“Since 1917, Fort Custer has played an integral part in training our Armed Forces for vital national security missions. It supports over 190,000 training mandays annually, hosts nine tenants, including the Army, Marine, and Naval reserves, and stands ready to take on this new mission,” the delegation writes in the letter. “Locating the interceptor at Fort Custer would bring a welcomed $3.2 billion in economic impact, including $700 million in new construction. It would also employ 300 jobs directly and up to 1,800 support jobs. Given all of these considerations, we strongly support Fort Custer Training Center as the preferred Continental United States Interceptor Site and look forward to staying engaged as the selection process continues.”

A full copy of the letter is available below.

September 19, 2016

Vice Admiral James D. Syring

Director, Missile Defense Agency

5700 18th Street, Bldg 245

Fort Belvoir, VA 22060

Dear Vice Admiral Syring,

It’s our understanding that you have completed your assessment of the environmental impacts for a missile defense Interceptor Site at Fort Custer Training Center, one of three remaining locations under consideration. The assessment showed that the environmental impacts for placing an interceptor at Fort Custer would be minimal and that unlike the other sites, Fort Custer would not require additional surveys or cause significant harm to protected species or habitats.

As you know, the community had the opportunity to meet with the Missile Defense Agency, ask questions about the draft assessment, and submit remarks before the public comment period closed on August 17. We have heard from numerous organizations and leaders in the community, and want to emphasize the strong local support for Fort Custer as the host location.

Since 1917, Fort Custer has played an integral part in training our Armed Forces for vital national security missions. It supports over 190,000 training mandays annually, hosts nine tenants, including the Army, Marine, and Naval reserves, and stands ready to take on this new mission.

Fort Custer has taken tremendous strides to increase its energy efficiency by installing solar fields and a wind funnel to generate electrical power.  These innovative developments help make Fort Custer a cost-effective option for the interceptor site.

Locating the interceptor at Fort Custer would bring a welcomed $3.2 billion in economic impact, including $700 million in new construction. It would also employ 300 jobs directly and up to 1,800 support jobs.

Given all of these considerations, we strongly support Fort Custer Training Center as the preferred Continental United States Interceptor Site and look forward to staying engaged as the selection process continues.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow

U.S. Representative Fred Upton

U.S. Senator Gary C. Peters

U.S. Representative Brenda L. Lawrence

U.S. Representative Candice S. Miller

U.S. Representative Mike Bishop

U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga

U.S. Representative Dan Benishek

U.S. Representative John Moolenaar

U.S. Representative Tim Walberg

U.S. Representative Dan Kildee

U.S. Representative Dave Trott

U.S. Representative Sander Levin

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell

U.S. Representative John Conyers

CC: Secretary Carter