IAM International President Brian Bryant recently wrote a letter urging members of Congress to sign a bipartisan letter urging the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to fund the C-130J Super Hercules program.

As a result, a record number of members of Congress signed on to a letter in support of the C-130J program.

The letter calls on the subcommittee to add eight C-130Js for the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command. It also calls for six Navy Reserve KC-130Js, four LC-130J ski-equipped aircraft for the Air National Guard and $100 million for fleetwide Diminishing Manufacturing Sources remediation.

The C-130J is a proven workhorse with advanced operational capability and low life-cycle costs.

In addition to supporting thousands of high-quality Machinists Union jobs, the C-130J program supports more than 33,000 direct and indirect jobs and 497 suppliers across 38 states.

To continue recapitalizing aging U.S. airlift fleets and to sustain high-quality jobs on this vital production line and across the supply chain, it is critical that lawmakers support the C-130J program.

• “The C-130J is the only U.S.-made airlifter currently in production,” wrote Bryant. “A stable and efficient C-130J production line is vital in supporting current and future Department of Defense and allied nation airlift requirements.  In addition, the C-130J production line provides for thousands of high-quality IAM Union jobs at Lockheed Martin and across the nationwide supply chain.”
•  Read the complete letter signed by the members of Congress here.