For Release: Friday, July 23, 2004
Contact: David Gillies: (202) 225-5661

DURBIN, COSTELLO AND SHIMKUS SECURE $265.3 MILLION TO PURCHASE THREE C-40 AIRPLANES AND MAINTAIN C-9s AT SCOTT AFB

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Washington - U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) announced today that they have secured $265.3 million to expand the mission of the 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base as part of the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2005.

The funds, added in the House version of the bill and maintained in the final version of the legislation, will be used to purchase three C-40 aircraft and maintain three C-9s currently at Scott. This action keeps the 932nd at Scott and the 1,000 reservists and civilians employed by the wing – as well as the $27 million the wing contributes annually to the local economy. The C-40 is the military version of the 737 and has numerous airlift capabilities.

Last year, funding was eliminated for the C-9s at Scott and those based in Japan, without plans for replacing the aircraft. Durbin, Costello and Shimkus immediately developed a plan to replace the C-9s and expand the mission of the 932nd. Last year, they secured $12.2 million to keep the C-9s at Scott for one year.

“Last year, the Air Force announced plans for drastic changes at Scott Air Force Base which would have had a serious impact on the economy of our state. Since then, the Illinois Congressional Delegation has worked in a bipartisan way to preserve and expand Scott’s important mission,” said Durbin. “I am pleased that with the help of Speaker Hastert, Congressman Costello and Congressman Shimkus, we were able to secure the funding to ensure a long-term, robust mission for the 932nd Airlift Wing. The regional economy will be stronger as a result.”

“This is a major commitment to Scott and the 932nd Reserve Airlift Wing. I would like to thank Speaker of the House Denny Hastert, Congressman John Shimkus and Senator Dick Durbin for helping make this happen,” said Costello. “Last year we were able to add $12.2 million to maintain the C-9s and put a plan in place to bring C-40s to Scott. We have succeeded in making that plan a reality.”

"Scott Air Force Base and the units within perform a critical mission in the war on terrorism," said Shimkus. "The men of the 932nd Squadron continue to provide tremendous service to our country. With these new planes, they will continue to do so. I would like to express my thanks to my colleagues here and to Speaker Hastert."

Scott AFB is the largest employer south of Springfield and is the fourth largest employer in the St. Louis region. It is estimated that Scott has an economic impact of well over $2 billion on the local and regional economy every year.

The funding will be used as follows:

$225 million to purchase three C-40 aircraft.

$6 million for hush kits for C-9Cs, which eventually will replace the C-9As currently at Scott.

$16.6 million for site activation to make the necessary preparations for the C-40s.

$8.3 million to keep the C-9As currently at Scott there for at least one more year.

$9.4 million for personnel costs.

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