Michelle Fischbach | Official U.S. House headshot
Michelle Fischbach | Official U.S. House headshot
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-07), Brad Finstad (R-MN-01), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), and Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Director of the Air National Guard Lieutenant General Michael Loh urging the Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force to select Minnesota National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Wing to receive new C-130J transport planes.
If the 133rd Airlift Wing is selected, new C-130J planes would replace eight, decades-old C-130H Hercules transport planes. Modernizing the C-130H fleet will ensure that the 133rd Airlift Wing is able to continue carrying out critical missions, boosting our nation's security and ability to respond to challenges at home and abroad.
“As the first federally recognized Air unit in the National Guard, the 133rd Airlift Wing is a historic unit with a history of accomplishment and partnership to be proud of. The 133rd is an integral part of our state, the overall National Guard and our country's security and as you look to finalize desired basing locations for the C-130J, we, the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, ask that you consider military judgment and include factors beyond the basing criteria. The 133rd Airlift Wing has repeatedly met and exceeded expectations, distinguishing itself across various missions. The 133rd is mission proven and marked by operational accomplishment,” wrote the lawmakers.
“The performance, readiness, capabilities, strength, and partnerships of the 133rd Airlift Wing are hard to match and provide a strong case to be one of the next states to recapitalize to C-130Js. We are proud of the 133rd and the Minnesota Guard and it is our privilege to work with and support them every day. We are grateful for your openness to consider input on this fielding decision,” the lawmakers continued.
You can read the full text of the letter here and below:
Dear Lieutenant General Loh,We want to thank you for your continued support and visits to Minnesota and to the National Guard. We strongly support Minnesota’s National Guard and the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our country. There is strong bipartisan support to continue to ensure our brave servicemembers in Minnesota have the right resources and latest equipment, including aircraft, to succeed and carry out their missions. This support extends to the Minnesota National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Wing and its long history of serving our state and country. As the first federally recognized Air unit in the National Guard, the 133rd Airlift Wing is a historic unit with a history of accomplishment and partnership to be proud of. The 133rd is an integral part of our state, the overall National Guard and our country's security and as you look to finalize desired basing locations for the C-130J, we, the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, ask that you consider military judgment and include factors beyond the basing criteria. The 133rd Airlift Wing has repeatedly met and exceeded expectations, distinguishing itself across various missions. The 133rd is
mission proven and marked by operational accomplishment including:
- Being awarded the 2022 Curtis N. "Rusty" Metcalf Trophy, which honors the most "Outstanding Airlift of Refueling Wing in the Air National Guard"
- Major Katie Lunning, who in 2023 became the first nurse in the Air National Guard to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
- Flying 10% of all sorties to the National Capital Region in support of Operation CAPITOL RESPONSE, moving 10% of all personnel and material, more than any other unit across Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserves Corps
- Consistently achieving top Fill Rates, masterfully training and assigning Airmen
- Being one of three peer wings exceeding 97% end strength, quickly restoring above 100%
- Currently and consistently achieving top rank in Medical Readiness maintaining a force that is 97% deployable
CC: Frank Kendall III, Secretary of the Air Force
Original source can be found here.