U.S. Rep. McSally Amendment to Protect EC-130H Compass Call Passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Speaking on the House floor just before midnight, U.S. Representative Martha McSally tonight successfully offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Defense Appropriations Act to prevent the retirement of any EC-130H Compass Call next year. Fifteen Compass Call aircraft, which conduct electronic warfare, are housed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (DM) as part of the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG). Earlier this year, the Administration sought to retire 7 of the 15 EC-130H housed at DM. 

“I recently visited our men and women from the 55th ECG as they’re deployed overseas and know first-hand how important their contributions are to our national security,” said Rep. McSally. “The Compass Call is the only Air Force aircraft dedicated to electronic warfare. It’s been heavily relied upon by combatant commanders during recent conflicts, and we cannot afford to retire this critical aircraft without a replacement capability.”

Watch Rep. McSally defend the EC-130H on the House floor HERE.

During mark up debate for the FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act in April, Rep. McSally successfully offered an amendment prohibiting the retirement of any EC-130H next year. That bill passed the House 269-151 on May 15, 2015. Rep. McSally also sent a letter to the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee requesting full funding authorization.

The Defense Appropriations Act provides $27.3 million for the EC-130H next year.