LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Dan Lauwers on Wednesday voted in favor of supplemental funding to make new upgrades to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in preparation for the facility’s next-generation fighter mission.
“The announcement of a new fighter mission was a major boost for the base and for Michigan as a whole,” said Lauwers, R-Brockway Township. “Several upgrades are needed to support the mission. This funding fulfills Michigan’s part of the agreement with the federal government and will ensure Selfridge remains an important and active air base for decades to come rather than face an uncertain future.”
The Senate granted final approval to House Bill 4572, which includes a $152 million appropriation to fund runway upgrades needed to support a new F-15EX Eagle II fighter mission to complement the base’s KC-46 Pegasus Refueling Tankers and replace its aging A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron.
President Donald Trump announced the new Selfridge mission during a visit to the base last year. The base, located in Macomb County, supports an estimated 30,000 jobs.
While he considers it a win, Lauwers criticized the Senate’s Democratic majority for waiting until the last minute to pass the legislation, which was first passed by the Michigan House in March.
“We needed to get this done,” Lauwers said. “The Air Force has a timeline, and we were dangerously close to letting the window slip by due to a lack of action from the current Senate majority.
“While it should have been done months ago, I’m glad we were able to secure this major investment for Michigan, Macomb County and our national defense.”
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