Efforts by shore Congressman Tom MacArthur (R-3) to ensure continued operations at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the aerial refueling tanker at its core take another step forward on Capitol Hill.

Congressman Tom MacArthur tours the Joint Base (courtesy Katie Pudiwill)
Congressman Tom MacArthur tours the Joint Base (courtesy Katie Pudiwill)
loading...

The Republican announced today that his amendments to prohibit military base closures, and to prevent retirement of the McDonnell Douglas KC-10, have landed in the 2016 government funding bill.

A military adaptation of the civilian DC-10, the KC-10 extender is considred one of the few jet crafts, anywhere in the world, capable of moving military cargo and personnel and conducting mid-air refueling, all at the same time.

In service for the Air Force since 1981, the KC-10 can move as many as 75 people and 170,000 pounds of cargo up to 4,400 miles on one tank of fuel.

The KC-10A is operated by the 305th Air Mobility Wing at JBMDL, and the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base in California.

"The KC-10 is critically important not only to our military's air mobility and readiness, but to the survival of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the 40,000 New Jersey residents employed there," MacArthur said in prepared remarks.

"Our fight for the KC-10 and the Joint Base began in January, and I'm so pleased our hard work has paid off with written protections preventing a future base closure as well as the retirement of the KC-10 in our nation's defense bill and the 2016 government funding bill."

MacArthur is scheduled to return to WOBM-AM to take your calls during "Ask The Congressman," February 17, 2016.

More From 92.7 WOBM