READOUT: Senator Reverend Warnock, Champion of Georgia Military Bases, Highlights Successfully Efforts to Secure Funding for Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center and Fort Stewart Military Housing

For the first time, Senator Reverend Warnock met with senior leadership and soldiers at the Combat Readiness Training Center at the Savannah Air National Guard Base and Fort Stewart to discuss mission goals and priorities

At the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center, Senator Reverend Warnock highlighted his successful effort to secure preliminary support for funding for the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center after the President’s Budget Request proposed cutting the center

At Fort Stewart, the Senator received an operations update on the 3rd Infantry Division deployed in Europe, met with soldiers and base leaders, and received an update on 3ID’s modernized military vehicles and new construction site for soldiers’ barracks, funding secured by Sen. Warnock in FY22 CDS

ICYMI from Fox 28: Sen. Warnock visits Combat Readiness Training Center to discuss securing its funding

Washington, D.C. — On Friday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) engaged with soldiers and military leaders at the Air Dominance Center and Fort Stewart. Senator Warnock has been a stalwart champion of Georgia’s military bases and securing resources to ensure our country’s national security.

Senator Reverend Warnock visited the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) at the Georgia Air National Guard Air Dominance Center. The Senator received a briefing on the importance of the CRTC to our national military readiness, Georgia’s leadership role in the military, and the Savannah community. After the briefing, Senator Warnock spoke with airmen of the 165thAir Wing and toured a newly constructed fifth-generation aircraft hangar which received $24 million in military construction appropriations funding in FY2020 and is scheduled for completion this coming fall. The Senator spoke with members of the media and took reporter questions.

The Senator’s visit followed his thus far successful efforts to secure federal funding for the strategically-important CRTC after the President’s Budget Request eliminated the center. The Senator recently joined Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA) to pressure House and Senate Appropriations committee members and Air Force leadership to fully fund the center.

Next, 3rd Infantry Division Commander Major General Costanza and Fort Stewart Garrison Commander Colonel Manuel Ramirez led Senator Warnock on a tour of Fort Stewart. The Senator spoke with soldiers and base leaders and toured modernized military vehicles. Next Senator Warnock toured a construction site for soldiers’ barracks, where he questioned engineers about timeline and safety of the units. Soldier housing is a major issue for Fort Stewart, which is why Sen. Warnock secured $5 million through Congressionally Directed Spending in the Final FY22 Military Construction appropriations bill for Fort Stewart to complete planning and design for an Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing Facility to accommodate the 372 soldiers. This follows years of reports of unsafe living conditions and a housing crisis on the base. This was later increased to $105 million for the barracks in the Army spending plan to match the authorized funding secured by Senator Warnock in in December 2021 in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act. Sen. Warnock also secured $22M for an energy plant with a microgrid in the FY22 NDAA.

Finally, the Senator joined military leaders for an operations update on the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division who are finishing up their deployment to Europe in support of NATO deterrence and Ukraine support efforts. The Senator reiterated his commitment to ensuring Fort Stewart and all other Georgia bases have the resources they need. The Senator highlighted the recently-passed Honoring Our PACT Act which will ensure up to 3.5 million veterans can receive care and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs when they transition out of the military. Senator Warnock closed the meeting by thanking Major General Costanza and other base leaders present for their courageous service, and reiterating that he and his staff are standing by to assist the base in any way possible.

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