Shaheen, Ayotte Continue to Make Case for Pease

Submitted by the Offices of U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte: 

With the Air Force set to hold a public hearing in Portsmouth on Thursday evening regarding the KC-46A environmental impact statement, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) made the case again Wednesday for Pease in a letter to the Director of the Air National Guard.

Shaheen and Ayotte, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have worked together extensively to highlight the strategic value of the Pease Air National Guard Base. They advocated for Pease to receive the next generation refueling tanker – the KC-46A – and last year announced that Pease will be the first Air National Guard unit to receive the tanker.  Pending results of the environmental impact study, Pease is slated to receive 12 aircraft beginning in fiscal year 2018.

Shaheen and Ayotte wrote, “In short, an optimal strategic location, a top-performing air refueling unit, an absence of environmental concerns, and a supportive community and Congressional delegation combine to make clear that Pease Air National Guard base represents the best possible location in the Air National Guard for the KC-46A.”