In response to a rise in military aviation accidents, Rep. Susan Davis is trying to increase funding for aircraft maintenance and readiness in the nation’s annual defense bill.
The San Diego Democrat introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have redirected $154 million from nuclear weapons programs to aircraft maintenance and readiness.
“It’s about priorities,” said Davis, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Just this year we have lost 27 servicemembers, including four personnel in El Centro, to air crashes.”
“These nuclear programs are already getting more money than the military requested,” she added. “Redirecting some of these funds to ensure our servicemembers are flying in safe aircraft is just common sense.”
Davis’ aircraft maintenance amendment failed in committee on a partisan vote, but she was able to secure other changes to the bill. These included initiatives to prevent border sewage spills, improvements to childcare for service members and changes to increase retention of women in the military.
“These provisions are critical to our region, national security, and our service members, veterans, and their families.” said Davis. “Moving ahead, I look forward to working in a bipartisan fashion to provide our men and women in uniform the resources and support they deserve.”