State Rep. Ron Robinson (R-Utica) today is urging the Michigan Senate to act on a $152 million supplemental funding plan to support runway and infrastructure upgrades at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, ensuring the base is prepared to receive a new fleet of fighter jets.

Last year, President Donald Trump announced that Selfridge had been selected for a new fighter mission, replacing the aging A-10 Thunderbolt II with 21 Boeing F-15EX Eagle II aircraft. The Michigan House earlier this month approved Robinson’s bill, a $152 million supplemental to fund the needed improvements, but the funding now awaits a vote in the Senate.

“The announcement of this mission was a turning point for Michigan,” said Robinson. “It represents a revitalization of a historic Michigan institution and a vote of confidence from Washington to our state. On top of that, the mission strengthens our national defense, protects thousands of good-paying jobs in Macomb, and sends shockwaves of optimism across the entire state.”

To accommodate the larger, next-generation aircraft, Selfridge must undergo significant upgrades, including new runways and other support facilities. The current infrastructure was built for smaller aircraft and is not equipped to handle the incoming fleet.

Robinson and others in the House have been working with the Air Force, Congress, Gov. Whitmer, and President Trump on the plan to implement the needed changes.

“This step is crucial to make sure this mission becomes a reality,” said Robinson. “Delays in funding threaten the mission, jeopardizing both the jobs at the base and the economic impact this project brings to the area.  I’m calling on the Senate to move quickly and get this done for Michigan workers and our national security.

“Without this funding, we risk the success of the entire mission,” said Robinson. “It would be incredibly disappointing to see something so important to Macomb and the state of Michigan be held up by political games. The people of Michigan deserve results, not delays. We’ve come too far to fall short right as this historic win in within reach.”