Congressman Don Davis Votes Again to Prevent Job Cuts at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Pay Our Troops

June 28, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) issued the following statement after he voted to support H.R. 8774, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a margin of 217-198.

“The Department of Defense Appropriations Act strips funds from the Air Force, preventing the closure of an F-15E fighter squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. I am determined and taking every measure possible to stop the Air Force from cutting the 520 jobs from eastern North Carolina,” said Congressman Don Davis. “The Air Force has yet to be straightforward with Wayne County and eastern North Carolina residents, and I am working to correct this. We also must take care of our junior enlisted and their families.”

The comprehensive legislation includes bipartisan amendments championed by Congressman Don Davis to procure F-15Ex aircraft for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, improve security at Air Force bases, and fund critical national security equipment at Camp Lejeune. Most importantly, the legislation includes a provision to stop the Air Force from eliminating F-15E aircraft at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and cutting the 520 jobs that come with them.

Military installations in eastern North Carolina include Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the United States Coast Guard—Elizabeth City, Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and Fort Liberty. Nearly 10,000 active duty personnel and 46,000 veterans are based in North Carolina’s First Congressional District.

Key Provisions of H.R. 8774 Include:

A prohibition on divestment of any F-15 aircraft, including at Seymour Johnson, unless the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that F-15E aircraft will be replaced one-for-one with other aircraft.
$1.8 billion for procurement of an additional 18 F-15Ex aircraft
$500 million for the Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Programs, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile defense systems, along with $200 million for international security cooperation with Taiwan.
A 15% pay raise for junior enlisted service members (E-4 and below) and a 4.5% basic pay increase for all other servicemembers.

Congressman Don Davis is a 1994 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a U.S. Air Force Veteran. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is the Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Readiness.

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