Arkansas has a long tradition of strongly supporting the armed forces as a whole, and especially our men and women in uniform. From the National Guard to defense depots, training facilities and air bases, communities across our state have always stepped up to advance our national security and demonstrate how much we value the servicemembers who protect us. 

As Chairman of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, I’ve worked to expand Arkansas’s leadership in military readiness and modernization. These efforts continue to build on local longstanding military contributions with significant regional and statewide benefits in addition to being integral to the defense of the country.

Recently, we have secured major military construction projects that will shape the future of defense operations in The Natural State for years to come.

One standout endeavor is the ongoing work at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith. Through hard work and collaboration among city and state leaders alongside the congressional delegation, Ebbing has become the home of the Foreign Military Sales F-35 training mission. Congress has provided strong support with $83 million allocated for 2024 and another $135 million for 2025 to expand the base. These investments make Arkansas a key hub for allied pilot training that undeniably bolsters America’s global partnerships.

Other investments are modernizing and improving readiness statewide.

The Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction appropriations bill funds projects at Camp Robinson. These include a new Medical Command Readiness Center and a headquarters for the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. It also invests in planning for a consolidated C-130J maintenance hangar at Little Rock Air Force Base, which plays a critical role in supporting the Air Force’s tactical airlift mission. As home to the world’s largest C-130 training center, Little Rock Air Force Base is essential in preparing pilots, aircrews and maintainers who conduct or assist with missions across the globe. Modernized maintenance infrastructure will help ensure the base can continue supporting the next generation of C-130J aircraft and sustain its essential capabilities well into the future.

Red River Army Depot, which employs many residents of southwest Arkansas, remains vital to keeping military equipment mission-ready and fortifying the broader defense industrial base. For decades, the depot has restored, rebuilt and maximized the effectiveness of essential military vehicles and components used by U.S. servicemembers around the world. In FY2026, we delivered $93 million for a new Component Rebuild Shop that will upgrade depot operations, improve efficiency and enhance America’s ability to retain and rapidly repair military equipment at a time when readiness and supply chain resiliency are increasingly important to our national defense.

These projects represent long-term commitments to military readiness, national security and those who serve while also generating jobs, economic growth and exciting opportunities for Arkansas communities. 

As our state maintains this proud tradition, I will continue championing policies that complement our current installations and assets, as well as the personnel behind them, eagerly and strategically in my role as MilCon-VA Chairman. Alongside Senator Cotton and our Arkansas colleagues in the House of Representatives, we will work tirelessly on boosting our state’s national security footprint that makes all Americans safer and more prosperous.