Peters, Stabenow Urge Senate Appropriators to Include Funding for F-15EX Fighter Jets at Selfridge in Defense Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) urged the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations to include funding in the 2024 defense appropriation bill for additional fighter aircraft such as the F-15EX at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The Senators also advocated for continued funding for Exercise Northern Strike and the modernization of Army National Guard facilities to ensure equitable access for female servicemembers.

In a letter to U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray and Vice Chair Susan Collins, Peters and Stabenow highlighted how crucial this funding is for defense priorities that are important to Michigan’s military installations and our country.

“We strongly urge you to increase funding for the advanced procurement of additional fighter aircraft such as the F-15EX for Fiscal Year 2024. Bases around the country, including Selfridge Air National Guard Base, are set to see their aging fighter aircraft divested in the coming years. We must take action now to recapitalize bases like Selfridge, which is uniquely positioned to host a new, long-term fighter mission,” the Senators wrote.

For years, Peters and Stabenow have led the effort to secure long-term investments for Michigan’s military installations, including Selfridge. This letter builds on these efforts.

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Chairwoman Murray and Vice Chair Collins:

As the House and Senate work towards passing the Fiscal Year 2024 defense appropriations bills, we urge you to fund the following defense priorities that are important to Michigan’s military installations and our country.

We strongly urge you to increase funding for the advanced procurement of additional fighter aircraft such as the F-15EX for Fiscal Year 2024. Bases around the country, including Selfridge Air National Guard Base, are set to see their aging fighter aircraft divested in the coming years. We must take action now to recapitalize bases like Selfridge, which is uniquely positioned to host a new, long-term fighter mission. Michigan’s unique physical environment and industrial capabilities are an asset to any fighter mission based at Selfridge, and in turn, an asset for the Air National Guard and the Air Force. Procuring additional aircraft and basing them at Selfridge would further fill an operational gap along the northern border as we look to threats over the polar arctic corridor.

Additionally, we strongly support and thank you for including $23 million for Exercise Northern Strike in FY 2024. Bringing together participants from roughly half of our states and territories and several of our international partners, Northern Strike is a joint exercise focusing on expeditionary skills, command and control, sustainment, and joint integrated fires. We are proud that Michigan has hosted Northern Strike since 2012, and servicemembers from across the country and the world have the opportunity to utilize Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC). As one of the Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises, Northern Strike is an asset to our national security posture and readiness.

Finally, we strongly support robust funding for the modernization of Army National Guard facilities and armories to ensure equity and readiness for female servicemembers. Thanks to funding in Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bills, the Michigan Army National Guard has already begun several projects to modernize its facilities across the state. Many facilities are still in need of urgent upgrades. Our female servicemembers are crucial to the Total Force, and our investments must match that commitment.

We realize the difficult budgetary constraints facing this year’s defense funding bills, particularly due to demands from the House majority. We strongly urge your consideration of these critical items for Michigan as you finalize funding for Fiscal Year 2024 defense appropriations.

###