Support for keeping helicopters

Fairchild’s helicopter squadron received another boost Tuesday as the U.S. House of Representatives gets ready to consider the massive military authorization bill.

A high-ranking Republican called for the 36th Rescue Flight to stay right where it is, as part of the U.S. Air Force Survival School, rather than having the four helicopters moved to other bases as the Air Force has proposed.

The House Armed Services Committee is beginning a process called “markup” on the Defense Authorization Bill later this week. In advance of the markup hearing, Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., the top Republican on one of the key subcommittees, said there were some “particularly strong points” that he wanted to mention. One of those was the fact that the House has added funding for the 36th Rescue Flight to the Pentagon’s plans for 2008.

The squadron provides valuable training at the Survival School “and is also part of the National Response plan that provides critical search and rescue support for the people of Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho,” Jones said.

Those are points that members of the Washington and Idaho delegations in both the House and Senate have made ever since President Bush’s budget showed the helicopters being removed from Fairchild.

One of the loudest voices in support of the squadron, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, is a member of the Armed Services Committee, but won’t be present during the markup hearings.

McMorris Rodgers is on leave after delivering her first baby in late April, about a month premature.

Jones’ comments make clear that other people will be making the case, if necessary, during hearings.

A spokeswoman for McMorris Rodgers said the committee has already found other areas in the Pentagon’s budget to cut to provide the money for the helicopters at Fairchild.