WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) successfully blocked any military funds from being used to close the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) in the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which President Biden signed into law today.
This landmark provision comes after months of advocacy from Rep. Carter, as well as a bipartisan group of Georgia lawmakers, who disagreed with the Biden administration’s decision to close a heavily utilized CRTC, which just hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a $25 million, taxpayer-funded airplane hangar.
“The best defense the United States has against international attacks on democracy is a strong, combat-ready military,” said Rep. Carter. “With China eyeing Taiwan and Russia bearing down on Ukraine, now is the time to invest in our combat readiness, not rein it in. As a strong supporter of the First District’s military community, and veterans nationwide, I am proud to preserve this world-class facility so that everyone who is selfless enough to answer the call to service has the best training and resources America can offer.”
In Rep. Carter’s May 2022 letter with Senator Warnock (D-GA) and a bipartisan group of Georgia lawmakers, the Members wrote: “The Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center is the most heavily utilized, unique, and cost efficient training facility in the Air Force. It offers unparalleled opportunities for peer-to-peer air combat training, regional training conferences, classified engagements, and support for regional operations.”
Read Rep. Carter’s op-ed on the importance of the CRTC here.
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