[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 19, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS J. ROONEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 2016

  Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
75th anniversary of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
  The Base was officially activated on April 16, 1941 and named in 
honor of Col. Leslie MacDill, a World War I veteran and aviation 
pioneer who died in a plane crash. MacDill AFB has a long and 
established legacy of protecting our national security.
  MacDill has continued to evolve and thrive over its 75 year lifespan. 
MacDill went from training crews to fly B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-26 
Marauder bombers in World War II to B-29 Superfortresses, B-47 
Stratojets and F-84, F-4 and F-16 fighters. It now is home to two wings 
that fly KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling jets. The base has played 
a key role in U.S. military actions from World War II, the Korean War, 
the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the ongoing 
fight against terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere. From its 
first day in service to our nation to now, MacDill has consistently 
played a vital role in U.S. military achievement.
  Currently, MacDill houses the 6th Air Mobility Wing and 39 Mission 
Teammates, including U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations 
Command, Marine Corps Forces Central Command, the Joint Communications 
Support Element and dozens of other mission partners, including, until 
July, the aircraft operations center of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.
  As integral as it is to our national security operations, MacDill is 
also a critical partner in our nation's humanitarian response efforts. 
Its strategic location was used to respond and aid the millions 
devastated by the 2010 earthquake that ravaged the capital city of 
Haiti, Port-a-Prince.
  MacDill is home to more than 13,000 military and civilian personnel. 
Nearly 170,000 retirees live in the Tampa area and depend on the base 
for many necessary services. MacDill remains a vital economic driver 
and a source of good paying jobs for Southwest Florida residents. The 
base pumps about $5 billion a year into the regional economy. MacDill 
is part of fabric of Southwest Florida; the relationship between the 
base and community is among the strongest in the military.
  Many of my constituents work and serve at MacDill and I am proud to 
represent these brave Floridians in an area that is so integral to our 
national defense. I know that MacDill will continue to play a crucial 
role in protecting Florida's families as our nation faces ongoing and 
future security challenges. I am proud to support MacDill Air Force 
Base every day and especially today on its 75-year anniversary.