Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) praised the signing into law of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes funding of projects at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB-MDL) in preparation for the arrival of the KC-46A refueling tankers, bringing more construction jobs to the region and further modernizing JB-MDL for the future, says Rep. Chris Smith who represents a significant portion of the base in Congress..
“The 2019 NDAA signed into law this week by President Trump provides critical and timely support for projects at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,” said Rep. Chris Smith, who represents the base and voted for the legislation as it made its way through Congress.
“The $10.2 million slated for the replacement of the Hot Cargo Hydrant System at JB-MDL, coupled with the over-$146 million in projects already begun at the base in preparation for the arrival of the KC-46As, further solidifies JB-MDL’s mission-critical status as the nation’s only tri-service joint installation and Air Mobility Command’s premier East Coast refueling hub for humanitarian and military operations around the globe,” Smith said.
The NDAA authorizes an overall total of $716 billion for national defense and increases troop strength across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. It also includes the largest across-the-board pay increase for military personnel in nine years—providing a much-needed boost to personnel at JB-MDL—as well as authorization of appropriations for aircraft, ships, and military equipment.
JB-MDL was selected as one of two bases to receive the new fleet of KC-46A tankers, with an anticipated arrival of 2021, after Rep. Chris Smith led a delegation letter in July of 2016 urging the Air Force to designate JB-MDL as a host for the new tankers.
Earlier this year, Smith supported the FY2018 NDAA (P.L. 115-91), which included a 2.4 percent across-the-board pay raise for military personnel and authorized over $146.5 million for JB-MDL for construction projects related to the arrival of the KC-46As; these projects included a two-bay general purpose maintenance hangar, a Regional Maintenance Training Facility, an alterations apron and fuel hydrants, a supply facility, a boom operator trainer, a fuselage trainer, storage facilities, and upgrades to other facilities.
The legislation also authorized $11.6 million for Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve projects at the base for aircraft apron, taxiway, and support facilities.
