{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393725", "Upton makes strong case for Fort Custer to Missile Defense Agency head", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To ensure our homeland remains protected in the event of an attack, the United States must be prepared for the worst, says Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who met today with Vice Adm. James D. Syring, the current director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Sitting in his Washington, DC office, Upton made a strong case for the selection of the Fort Custer Training Center of Augusta, Mich. Fort Custer is one of four locations being considered by the MDA for a potential interceptor site capable of shielding the eastern-half of the United States against threats posed by nations like Iran and North Korea. \u201cSouthwest Michigan not only has the infrastructure, resources, and leadership, we have the strong public backing to support this critical national security mission,\u201d said Upton, who attended a public scoping meeting hosted by the MDA at the Sherman Lake YMCA in Augusta in late August.  In addition to the support of the local community, Upton noted the selection of Fort Custer has the strong endorsement of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder as well as Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Vadnais, the Adjutant General who commands the Michigan Army and Air National Guard units. \u201cGovernor Snyder and I are really pleased and appreciate the incredible support from the community and Congressman Upton to construct GBI at Fort Custer, should the decision be made to move forward,\u201d said Maj. Gen. Vadnais. Building the missile defense system would infuse more than $3 billion into Southwest Michigan\u2019s economy, resulting in the addition of 300 new direct jobs and as many as 1,800 indirect jobs. Upton recently submitted a letter in strong support of the selection of Fort Custer as part of the official public comment period. A copy of the letter may be found here, the full text of which follows immediately below. September 12, 2014 Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp  \nAttn: MDA CIS EIS\n6601 College Boulevard\nOverland Park, KS 66211-1504 To Whom It May Concern: As the Department of Defense studies potential locations for an East Coast missile defense site, I wish to express my strong support for the Fort Custer Training Center in Augusta, Michigan, as the future home of this important national security mission.  Strategically located between Chicago and Detroit, the region surrounding Fort Custer boasts the robust critical infrastructure necessary to support the construction and long-term success of this mission, including surface and air transportation; energy; housing; and education. Positioned near two major interstates highways (I-94 and I-69), the location is a stone\u2019s throw away from the 110th Airlift Wing at the W.K. Kellogg Air National Guard Base, which boasts a 10,000-foot runway capable of meeting Department of Defense needs. Presently home to the Michigan Army National Guard\u2019s 177th Regiment, the Regional Training Institute, and the Augusta Armory, the Fort Custer Training Center is the heart of a community with a proud and longstanding history of supporting our military and its veterans.  Public support for the selection of Fort Custer has been overwhelming at every level. Both our state\u2019s Governor and Adjutant General are strong supporters and recognize the importance of this mission. The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, and the Michigan State Senate (among others) have all passed resolutions formally endorsing the site, and the Michigan State House is expected to do the same. Fort Custer also has the backing of the region\u2019s two leading economic development organizations \u2013 Southwest Michigan First and Battle Creek Unlimited \u2013 as well as the recent endorsement of the Kalamazoo Gazette \u2013 the area\u2019s largest print and online news source. I recently attended the Missile Defense Agency\u2019s public scoping meeting in Augusta, which was preceded by a tour of the two potential interceptor sites at the training center location. The meeting was well-planned, informative, and well-attended \u2013 MDA leadership and staff deserve to be commended for a job well done. I am one who has always recognized that providing for our national security and care of our veterans are priorities that rise above politics. I have never hesitated to stand by our Armed Forces to ensure that they have the training, resources, and funding necessary to succeed both here at home and abroad. I have also supported efforts to provide for greater collaboration with our first responders to prepare for any contingency. With growing threats from rogue states like Iran and North Korea \u2013 along with emerging threats posed by well-financed terrorist organizations like ISIS \u2013 we as a nation need to be prepared for the worst. The location of a future interceptor site is a decision that is vital to our national security and thus must be based on that above all else. That is why I am excited that we have such a top-notch site ready to go here in Southwest Michigan. I respectfully urge you to locate the next interceptor site at Fort Custer. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. Sincerely, Fred Upton\nMember of Congress", 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": ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393725"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9086248464882374, "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"}