{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/latest-headlines/missouri-leaders-continue-call-for-f-35s-at-whiteman-", "Missouri leaders continue call for F-35s at Whiteman", "2016-10-10", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Claire McCaskill", "M001170", "www.mccaskill.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Missouri leaders continue call for F-35s at Whiteman  \r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                Monday, October 10, 2016\r\n            \r\n            \n\t\n\r\n            \r\n            \r\n                  \r\n                    By:\u00a0\r\n                    Jack \"Miles\" Ventimiglia\r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            Knob Noster \u2013 Top Missouri Democrats and Republicans support stationing F-35s at Whiteman Air Force Base.\r\nThe Air Force \u2013 earlier expected to make a decision by fall \u2013 may not decide until December or early 2017, House Armed Services member Vicky Hartzler said. Whiteman is one of four bases the Air Force is considering for F-35s.\r\n\u201cWe feel really good about Whiteman\u2019s chances,\u201d Hartzler said. \u201cI\u2019ve been visiting with a lot of generals, and the deputy secretary of the Air Force just last week, about the benefits of having the F-35s come to Whiteman.\u201d\r\nSen. Roy Blunt, Senate Armed Services Committee member Claire McCaskill, Hartzler and the seven other House members from Missouri sent the Air Force a letter of support for placing the F-35s at Whiteman.\r\nThe letter offered to incentivize Whiteman as the choice.\r\nAppointed this year as the first Missouri Military Advocate, Joe Driskill said Monday his office is coordinating closely with the congressional delegation. He declined to get into specifics about potential economic support.\r\n\u201cWe are examining options \u2026 with the least amount of capital investment,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are deeply involved in making sure Whiteman has the greatest chance to be selected.\u201d\r\nEach base has advantages and disadvantages and supporters want to increase Whiteman\u2019s advantages.\r\n\u201cWe are aware of what the competition looks like,\u201d Driskill said.\r\nWhat adding to Whiteman\u2019s advantages might cost has not been determined, he said.\r\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to have to come to some conclusions on that fairly soon,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re exploring mechanisms for being able to address some of these capital improvements issues.\u201d\r\nDriskill works within the Missouri Department of Economic Development.\r\n\u201cState leaders are discussing a strategy to provide economic development resources to support capital improvements needed at Whiteman,\u201d the letter to Air Force stated. \u201cCurrently, the state is taking a close look at the possibility of funding construction of the required simulator facility and new apron to accommodate the F-35 if Whiteman is selected.\u201d\r\nThe call to add F-35s comes at a time when the Air Force wants to mothball the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The plan is that F-35s should replace A-10s as a close air support platform. If that happens, and F-35s do not come to Whiteman, then there would be no replacements for A-10 personnel working within the 442nd. As a result, surrounding communities would absorb millions in economic losses.\r\nWhiteman personnel have proven their worth, Hartzler said.\r\n\u201cCertainly the 442nd has had multiple deployments. They know the close air support mission better than anybody, and certainly that\u2019s going to be a very important mission for the F-35, as well as the stealth capabilities that the aircraft provides,\u201d she said.\r\nWhiteman is home to the B-2, the world\u2019s first stealth bomber. Combining stealth bomber and fighter missions could provide a basis for joint work between stealth aircraft.\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s something that we mention as an opportunity because you do have the B-2s there and you have the F-35s potentially there, as well as the Guard unit, and you could have some joint exercises there that could have real-world implications and benefits for our national security,\u201d Hartzler said.\r\nWhiteman is a strong contender to become a home to the fighters, Hartzler said, because base personnel work together regardless of different missions.\r\n\u201cThe joint operations there \u2013 between the active duty, the Reserve and the Guard \u2013 is something the Air Force is very proud of and wants to continue at replicating,\u201d she said, \u201cand there are fantastic facilities, community support. All of the officials within the Air Force that I\u2019ve visited with are aware of those things and as the process moves on, we\u2019re going to continue to advocate for Whiteman and hope for a good outcome.\u201d\r\nThe letter laid out reasons the fighter should come to Whiteman.\r\n\u201cWe agree that Whiteman offers a tremendous lack of encroachment; access to quality, extensive, and unencumbered airspace; first-rate infrastructure; and protected access to ranges,\u201d the members wrote in their joint letter to the Air Force. \u201cWhiteman would also provide a number of other operational benefits and efficiencies above and beyond the strategic basing criteria that we ask you to consider. \u2026 Missouri is proud to be a partner to the United States Air Force and our state leaders join us in our shared commitment to working with you to make Whiteman the best possible home for the Joint Strike Fighter.\u201d\r\n            \r\n             \r\n            \r\n            \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/latest-headlines/missouri-leaders-continue-call-for-f-35s-at-whiteman-"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8698897436261177, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}