(Washington, D.C.)  Congresswoman Cathy McMorris today acknowledged that the KC-135 Stratotanker safety modification project will provide economic benefits to the region, yet also highlights the need to secure replacement air refueling tankers. Major General Timothy Lowenberg today signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the Washington Air National Guard to conduct a KC-135 safety modification project. The project will add new full time Air Guard positions and will generate approximately $2 million per year in local salaries.

“Today’s announcement is a tribute to the great work being done by our Air National Guard,” said McMorris. “Fairchild is the number one employer in our region and it is always positive to expand missions at the base and create more jobs,” said McMorris. “However, instead of investing more money into 40-year old planes, we must also be actively working to secure replacement tankers. I have seen firsthand that these tankers are an overstressed, aging active duty fleet. This new project further highlights the importance of getting these new tankers to the base as soon as possible.”

Last August, McMorris met with U.S. Air Force Commander General Duncan McNabb who gave his assurance that he hopes to bring the first fleet of KC-X tankers to Fairchild Air Force Base because of the training capabilities, ramp space and the great support from the community.

“I will continue to move forward with our goal of expanding the missions at Fairchild and making it a joint operations base.”