Senator Tim Johnson | Working for South Dakota

Tim talks with Colonel Steve Doohen, 114th Fighter Wing Commander at Joe Foss Field

Tim talks with Colonel Steve Doohen at Joe Foss Field

Throughout my career in the Congress, I have been a strong proponent of better funding for military pay, health care, education, and housing. My oldest son is in the Army National Guard and has served in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and most recently, Iraq. The stress on morale caused by poor quality-of-life issues not only affects the preparedness of our military units, but discourages some of our most able personnel from re-enlisting and makes recruitment more difficult. I will continue working to ensure the U.S. military remains the best trained and best equipped fighting force in the world.

Ellsworth Air Force Base

In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) overturned the Defense Department's recommendation to close Ellsworth Air Force base. Ensuring that the Commission voted to remove Ellsworth from the base closure list was truly a group effort. I was proud to work with Senator Thune, Representative Herseth Sandlin, Governor Rounds, and the Ellsworth Task Force to make the vote a reality. We left no stone unturned in our efforts to save Ellsworth.

Following our successful efforts during the BRAC process, the South Dakota Delegation again demonstrated the invaluable contribution Ellsworth Air Force Base makes to our national defense by recommending the base receive the Air Force Financial Services Center mission. The Financial Services Center recently opened and will consist of approximately 550 employees who will perform customer service duties. These individuals will help our men and women in uniform by providing financial management services to military personnel.

Without question, Ellsworth is a world-class military installation. As a member of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee, I have helped to direct more than $114 million to Ellsworth, including funding for new buildings and military housing.

Additionally, I have helped secure increased funding for the B-1 bombers stationed at Ellsworth. As the backbone of our bomber fleet, the B-1 bombers stationed at Ellsworth have flown missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, B-1s were integral in liberating Iraq by dropping more than half the satellite guided munitions on critical targets, including command and control facilities, bunkers, and surface-to-air missile sites. Here are some of the projects that I have recently helped secure funding for:

- Base Civil Engineer Administrative Facility (16.6 million)

- Maintenance Group Headquarters Facility ($8.4 million)

- Base Operations Center ($9.8 million)
The Base Operations Center consolidated various operations into one facility including wing safety, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), base operations, food service, weather data collection, and radar approach control (RAPCON).

- B-1 Weapons System Trainer Facility ($9.3 million)
This facility houses a two-ship simulator for operations and training functions of two bomb squadrons.

- Upgrading Family Housing ($71 million)
The housing facilities at the base have undergone a massive upgrade. Replacing base housing is essential to maintaining quality of life at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

- 37th Bomb Squadron Operations Facility ($13.2 million)

Holding Contractors Accountable

Eliminating fraud and waste in government contracting is critically important. The American people are financing the bulk of our reconstruction efforts in Iraq, and we have a responsibility to ensure their money is spent on well-planned construction projects and not squandered due to corruption and inadequate oversight. Even more significant, every dollar spent wastefully in Iraq is a dollar that does not provide the equipment our soldiers so urgently require for their protection.

I am pleased to cosponsor the Commission on Wartime Contracting Establishment Act (S.1825). That measure establishes the Commission that would investigate and report to Congress on the use of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill requires the Commission to look at the extent of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement and the extent to which those responsible have been held accountable. Additionally, the extent and impact of reliance on contractors would be investigated. This legislation has been referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

I have also contacted the Administration on a number of occasions regarding reports of fraud to request that government agencies investigate abuse and take all necessary steps to ensure that U.S. tax dollars are spent wisely and properly documented.

Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble is a hero that has served our nation honorably and made South Dakota and all of America proud. Learn more about him and Tim's work to secure him the Medal of Honor.