Ellmers bill would save Air Force Reserve wing

A congresswoman from North Carolina introduced a bipartisan amendment Monday that would preserve a 440th Air Force Reserve unit based at Fort Bragg’s Pope Airfield.

The measure, introduced by Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) would amend the House’s 2015 defense authorization bill, which will be debated by House lawmakers this week.

{mosads}”These cuts would be detrimental for the Fayetteville community — eradicating jobs and damaging the livelihood of many hard working men and women who serve Fort Bragg and Pope Airfield,” she said.

The proposal to close the 440th Airlift Wing, which flies the C-130, a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft, was included in the president’s 2015 budget proposal.

The reserve unit supports worldwide missions and training missions for troops based at Fort Bragg.

Original co-sponsors include Reps. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) and David Price (D-N.C.).