Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold Calling on BRAC Chairman Anthony Principi to Reconsider Decision to Close the 440th Airlift Wing August 23, 2005 Yesterday I spoke with Anthony Principi, chairman of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, and told him why I believe the Secretary of Defense made a mistake when he recommended the closure of the 440th Airlift Wing based at Mitchell Field. At a time when our military is not meeting recruitment goals, it makes no sense to close down a facility that routinely exceeds Air Force reserve retention rates and has a recruiting base of 12 million people in the Milwaukee and Chicago area. I had a first hand look at the professionalism and bravery of the men and women of the 440th when I flew with them in Iraq last February. I know that it would be a great shame to lose the experience and expertise of the men and women of the 440th. I appreciated Chairman Principi's open-mindedness and his taking the time to speak with me and I am confident that once he and the other commissioners realize what a great asset the 440th Airlift Wing is, they will reach the same conclusions I have reached -- that the 440th is too valuable an asset to this nation's security to close down."

# # #