Today, the Committee on Appropriation’s Subcommittee on Defense expressed support for the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) which President Biden proposed cutting in the President’s Budget Request

The Appropriations Committee’s action came at the urging of Senator Warnock, who led a bipartisan delegation of Georgia lawmakers in pushing their colleagues on the Senate and House Appropriations committees to prevent proposed cuts to the Georgia National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) in Savannah

Also last month, Senator Reverend Warnock and Congressman Buddy Carter sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, calling for a meeting between Southeast Georgia constituents and Air Force and Air National Guard leadership to discuss the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center’s (CRTC) proposed closure

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’ve been working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reverse the President’s misguided decision to close the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center because it’s bad for Savannah and bad for our national security and it’s great that it is one step closer to being fully funded”

ICYMI from WTOC: U.S. senator, representative speak out against proposal to cut Savannah’s Combat Readiness Training Center

Washington, D.C. — Today, following months of pushing, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), announced that he has secured $11.7 million for full operational and personnel funding for the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) which President Biden had proposed cutting in the President’s Budget Request. The Committee on Appropriation’s Subcommittee on Defense’s action came at the urging of Senator Warnock, who has led a bipartisan delegation of Georgia lawmakers in pushing their colleagues on the Senate and House Appropriations committees to prevent proposed cuts to the Georgia National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) in Savannah. In June, the House Appropriations Committee announced it would fully fund the Savannah CRTC.

“I’ve been working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reverse the President’s misguided decision to close the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center because it’s bad for Savannah and bad for our national security and it’s great that it is one step closer to being fully funded,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “The Training Center is a cost-effective national security asset crucial for regional training and coordination, which is why I’m glad that my work has paid off. This is no time to cut America’s military readiness.”

“I just visited the Savannah CRTC last month, where I was briefed on the importance of the military training and exercises that take place at the Center and I toured the newly constructed aircraft hangar which recently received $24 million in federal investments, so I know first-hand how crucial this Training Center is. This fight isn’t over, and I won’t stop pressing this until the Savanah CRTC’s funding is fully secured,” concluded Senator Warnock.

This action follows Senator Warnock’s persistent pushing to keep the center open and fully funded. In May, Senator Warnock and Congressman Carter (R-GA) led a bipartisan letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, calling for a meeting between Southeast Georgia constituents and Air Force and Air National Guard leadership to discuss the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center’s (CRTC) proposed closure. Earlier in May, Senator Warnock led a delegation of Georgia lawmakers in pushing their colleagues on the Senate and House Appropriations committees to prevent proposed cuts to the Georgia National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) in Savannah. Last year, Senator Warnock announced that the United States Air Force (USAF) confirmed today that the Savannah Air Guard Base and Georgia Air Guard are on track to receive several new, strategic C-130J planes, which has been a priority for Georgia’s Air National Guard and the Coastal Georgia defense community.

In addition to the CRTC, Senator Warnock secured $65.2 million federal investments above the president’s budget request for Georgia’s key national security assets. Across the state, Senator Warnock secured improvements for operations and housing facilities at Moody Air Force Base, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Fort Gillem, Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Kings Bay. An advocate for Georgia’s role in our nation’s national security, Senator Warnock previously secured $317 million in authorized funding for Georgia’s defense community in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act.

Military Wins for Georgia: Key Highlights that Senator Warnock secured can be found below:

Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC)

• Senator Warnock secured $11.7 million in programmatic operational and personnel programmatic funding increases to secure the overall budget of the Savannah CRTC.

Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) Military Construction Funding

• Dobbins Air Reserve Base 
  • Senator Warnock secured $5 million for planning and design for an Army Reserve Center that will become a training facility for up for 800 servicemembers.
• Fort Gordon:
  • Senator Warnock secured $21 million for an additional to a Child Development Center and an additional $5 million for the planning and design of a new Child Development Center. 
  • Senator Warnock secured $5 million for the planning and design of a National Guard and Reserve Center Building to offer a permanent location for training and administrative activities for Guard and Reserve units on post.
• Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany
  • Senator Warnock secured $6.4 million for planning and design for the Base Consolidated Communication Center to improve the Marine Corps Logistics Command’s command and control infrastructure.
• Moody Air Force Base:
  • Senator Warnock secured $1.1 million for planning and design for the 23d Security Forces Squadron Operations Facility, which will support training, operations, and administrative needs for the unit.

Unspecified Military Construction Funding

• Fort Gillem 
  • Senator Warnock secured $24.7 million in unspecific funding for Fort Gillem to provide permanent facilities for the Defense Forensic Science Center’s Forensic Exploitation Directorate.

Senator Warnock secured $65.3 million in directed and unspecified military construction funding for Georgia’s military installations.

Non-CDS Military Construction and ERCIP Funding

• Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay 
  • Senator Warnock secured $100 million for the Kings Bay Nuclear Regional Maintenance Facility and $65.3 million for the Kings Bay Trident Training Facility, both critical projects as the base prepares to transition to the Columbia Class submarine.
  • Senator Warnock also secured $11.2 million for Supervisory Control and Data System (SCADA) Modernization, supporting base energy resiliency.
• Fort Stewart/HAAF
  • Senator Warnock secured $25.4 million for Power Generation and Microgrid construction to invest in the installation’s natural gas infrastructure.

In total, the Senate Appropriations Military Construction bill contains approximately $273 million in military construction funding for Georgia projects. 

Defense Programmatic Funding

• Combat Rescue Helicopters (CRH)
  • Senator Warnock secured an increase of $370 million in procurement funding for ten (10) additional Combat Rescue Helicopters, working to support Moody AFB’s key HH-60W missions.
•  Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)
  • Senator Warnock secured an increase of $10 million in programmatic funding for the Air Force’s JADC2 component, the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), which Air Force Secretary Kendall has said Georgia will play a key role in.
• Small Unit Ground Robotic Capabilities
  • Senator Warnock secured an increase of $7 million in programmatic funding for the Army’s small unit ground robotic capabilities, which are being developed at Fort Benning. This follows Senator Warnock’s success in securing authorizing language for this program in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act.

Senator Warnock also supported funding for other programs critical to Georgia, including the Columbia Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program, E-11 BACN Operations, C-130H modifications, REPI, and DoD Impact Aid. 

A full accounting of the military wins Senator Warnock secured for Georgia can be found HERE. 

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