SHAHEEN MEETS WITH AIR FORCE SECRETARY NOMINEE, REITERATES PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE SUPPORT

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) this morning met with Deborah James, nominee to be Secretary of the Air Force, to discuss national and New Hampshire defense priorities, including the KC-46A aerial refueling tanker at Pease Air National Guard Base.  During the meeting the two also discussed the effects of Department of Defense (DoD) budget cuts on federal employees and the military’s efforts to combat sexual assault. If confirmed, James will be the second woman to serve as Air Force Secretary.

“Deborah James has a uniquely qualified background and record of public service that I believe will be an asset to the Air Force and the defense community,” said Shaheen, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I appreciated the opportunity to discuss key defense priorities like the KC-46A tanker and how we can navigate the readiness, military and defense industry challenges associated with indiscriminate budget cuts,” Shaheen added.

As a member of both the Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, Shaheen worked to include funding for a number of New Hampshire defense priorities in the 2014 Defense Appropriations bill, including the KC-46A aerial refueling tanker and Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines, as well as programs that provide care and support to servicemembers and their families. Shaheen has repeatedly called for bipartisan compromise on a long-term deficit deal to replace sequestration and voted for a responsible Senate Budget Resolution  earlier this year that would replace sequestration while reining in the country’s debt and deficit.