WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida), a member of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, today continued his fight for Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) by including language in the Defense Appropriations bill that would delay the retirement of the F-15s assigned to the base until the Air Force has provided Congress with detailed reports on the long-term effects of the drawdown.  Congressman Boyd included this language in the Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010, which passed in the House of Representatives today.  If signed into law, the Air Force would be prevented from implementing its restructuring plan for a year.  

Additionally, Congressman Boyd’s language directs an independent review by a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) on the impact of the restructure on our nation’s combat air forces.  More specifically to the Bay County community, the Air Force would further be required to submit a cost-benefit analysis of its proposal to move F-15 training to Kingsley, Oregon.  This analysis must be provided to Congress within 90 days of enactment.

“The Air Force proposals in the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2010 Budget have far reaching implications for the Bay County community and others like it across the country, and there has been little to no explanation given to Congress about the justification for this change in strategy and mission,” said Congressman Boyd.  “The Air Force should be forthcoming with its analysis to retire F-15s earlier than expected, especially given the future fighter gap across the force that they have acknowledged.  I am pleased that I was able to require the Air Force to submit reports to Congress on its long-term vision for Tyndall.”

"The efforts of Congressman Boyd and his staff have been exemplary, and closely coordinated with the Bay Defense Alliance once news of the potential F-15 drawdown was revealed last September,” said Tom Neubauer, President of the Bay Defense Alliance.  “The language in the Defense bill is powerful, and asks all the right questions."

“Both Tyndall and the Navy base play an integral role in our national defense efforts and our local economy – both are sources of pride for me and the people of Bay County,” Boyd stated.  “I will continue to work in Congress and on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to make sure our bases remain strong.”

Congressman Boyd also secured a total of $18 million for the following defense projects at Tyndall AFB and the Naval Surface Warfare Center – Panama City in the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010:

Tyndall Air Force Base:

• $5,000,000 for Bio-JP8 Fuel Development.  Tyndall will use this funding to help the Air Force meet their mandate of deriving 50% of its aviation fuel from non-petroleum based sources by 2016.

• $2,500,000 for Fine Water Mist Fire Suppression Technology.  Tyndall will use this funding to create a better, safer, cheaper, and more environmentally-friendly fire suppression technology, which is critical to Air Force military installations throughout the country that house Fighter jets.

• $3,800,000 for a Deployable Command and Control Vehicle.  The Navy base will use this funding to enhance the Navy’s deployable command and control capabilities and interoperability.

• $3,000,000 for Common Air Mine Countermeasures Tow Cable.  The Navy base will use this funding to develop and manufacture a tow cable for Navy assets.

• $1,900,000 for a Non-gasoline Burning Outboard Engine.  The Navy base will use this funding to assist Special Operations in developing a non-gasoline engine.

• $1,800,000 for Sensor Integration Framework.  The Navy base will use this funding to enhance command and control by creating a common software program to service various computing platforms used by the Navy.