Press Releases

Rep. Johnson Urges Congress to Prioritize Fort Polk and Barksdale Assets

 On Thursday, Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-04) testified before the House Armed Services Committee on the importance of funding missions at Barksdale Air Force Base and Fort Polk Army Base in Louisiana. Rep. Johnson has visited both installations repeatedly to assess their needs and has attended several Department of Defense briefings at the Pentagon since. He continues to advocate on behalf of Louisiana’s important military contributions to our nation, and last month, also testified before the House Appropriations Committee on this matter.

Following today’s testimony, Rep. Johnson released the following statement:

“Misguided policies put in place by the Obama Administration have weakened our military capabilities and reduced the number of our forces. Given the uncertainties facing the world today, the critical role both Barksdale and Fort Polk play in protecting our national security cannot be overstated. Yet both installations require substantial increases in funding to maintain a robust and capable force. These should be top priorities in our defense budget.

“I am committed to taking the concerns of our military members and their families directly to Washington. Congress must act swiftly to provide our military with the resources they need to be successful. I am thankful to Chairman Thornberry for allowing me to work closely with the Armed Services Committee on these matters.”

A video of the full testimony can be found here.

The text of his testimony can be found here.