releases: https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=c6f6924e-cb76-4aa0-8771-540e1b6b1d53
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=c6f6924e-cb76-4aa0-8771-540e1b6b1d53 | COCHRAN FOCUSED ON MISS. NATIONAL GUARD FUTURE AMID BUDGET CONSTRAINTS | 2014-08-08 | 2014 | 2014-08 | Republican | House | MS | Thad Cochran | C000567 | www.cochran.senate.gov | legacy | JACKSON, Miss. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), vice chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today toured Mississippi National Guard facilities with an eye on the Guard’s future as the Department of Defense adjusts to budget constraints. Cochran joined Maj. Gen. Augustus L. Collins, Adjutant General of Mississippi, and other officials, to be briefed on 172nd Airlift Wing and to tour operations at the 97-acre Allen C. Thompson Field at the Jackson-Evers International Airport. Collins is the commanding general of both the Army and Air National Guard in Mississippi. “The 172nd Airlift Wing, as part of the National Guard in Mississippi, performs proudly and effectively to support our national security interests. I would like to ensure that it will be able to continue this good work,” Cochran said. “The Senate and House have both produced defense funding bills for Fiscal Year 2015 that make the best of resources available for our national security, including making more funding available for readiness and other defense priorities by eliminating some programs and consolidating others. The budget situation in the next few years, however, will likely be very challenging,” said Cochran. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (the Murray-Ryan budget agreement), which Cochran opposed, requires significant defense spending cuts starting in FY2016. “I will continue to work with the military leadership, state officials, community leaders and others to ensure that our military installations in Mississippi are positioned for the difficult decisions coming down the line,” Cochran said. In February 2012 after the Air Force proposed force reductions that would have affected personnel and equipment at several Mississippi military installations, members of the Mississippi congressional delegation worked with National Guard Chief Gen. Frank J. Grass and the board of Governors, to lessen those impacts. In the end, billets for the 172nd Airlift Wing actually increased by 48. In July, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY2015 Defense Appropriations Bill that Cochran helped craft. The nearly $549 billion bill included $11 billion in reductions from program requests throughout the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, and redirected some of those savings to other national defense priorities like readiness, shipbuilding and aircraft procurement. The 172nd Airlift Wing supports the State of Mississippi during national emergencies, including maintaining peace and order, civil defense and pre-attack planning. In addition, eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs assigned to the Mississippi Air National Guard are assigned to support the Strategic Brigade Airdrop mission of the XVIIIth Airborne Corps. The Airlift Wing routinely trains with the Airborne Corps and supports the 24-hour wheels-up requirement of the nation’s contingency mobilization plan. Cochran worked with members of the Mississippi congressional delegation and local leadership to bring and stand-up the C-17 transport aircraft unit to Thompson Field. Cochran’s past support also included securing funding for the C-17 Flight Simulator Facility and Maintenance Training System. LINK: • 172nd Airlift Wing: http://1.usa.gov/1zXTOtj • C-17 Globemaster III: http://1.usa.gov/1yafS0Z • Cochran on FY2015 Defense Appropriations Bill: http://1.usa.gov/1qMrIMl ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |