With the Senate now under Republican control, the leadership of its Appropriations Committee has announced a reshuffle of its powerful subcommittee chairs. “I am optimistic about working with this team and appreciative of the leadership they will provide the committee,” said Chairman Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). Cochran, who served as ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel in the 113th Congress, now also holds the SAC-D chairmanship in addition to chairing the full committee, taking over from Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). Cochran also announced chairs for other subcommittees, to include Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) who now chairs the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies panel.
The Air Force won’t finalize a new deal with Boeing for another 75 KC-46 tankers until some of the “deficiencies” with the refueler are resolved, new Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John D. Lamontagne told lawmakers March 4.