Governor Whitmer: We wore down Washington in urging Selfridge improvements

Right. Good morning. I am thrilled to be here with all of you. And as I reflect on the last eight years, as my time as governor comes to a close, it is an honor to be here once again at Selfridge. It is with gratitude that I thank everyone here who played an important role in getting us to this moment. And I think that one of the best decisions I made in the early days of a transition, that time between election and when you take your oath of office, was asking Paul Rogers to be our adjutant general. Thank you for your leadership, General Rogers. And yes, he does wear me out on occasion, but it's only because he is a relentless advocate for the Guard, for the military, for the state of Michigan. Yesterday, we were together up in Grayling with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Congressman, you were joining with us, and I think I highlight that because as we think about growing our defense sector, as we think about who we are in Michigan and the contributions we can make to our national security, it's important that we continue to center this work. Every one of these agencies, whether it's the Guard, it is the best National Guard in the country, which is the Michigan National Guard, or it is the MEDC, or it is leadership at the federal level, the state level, and the local level, all of these are important ingredients if we're going to continue to be successful, because it doesn't just happen. Selfridge supports thousands of good-paying local jobs. Selfridge also is a linchpin to all of our other installations across the state. This is a 5,000 military family. It drives $850 million in economic impact. So fighting for Selfridge is a mission that should unite all of us, Republicans, Democrats, independents, everyone. And a lot of people worked hard to get it to this point. And I want to acknowledge the Democratic leadership in the legislature, the Republican leadership in the legislature, Senate Majority Leader Brinks, Speaker Hall, all the members of the legislature who were pivotal to getting us to this moment. Major General Rogers, I want to acknowledge all of the state, my cabinet directors who are part of this, from the budget director to DTMB and everyone else. You know, I've got 65 days left as governor. And as you can imagine, it comes with a lot of reflection. I have been able to be a part of problem solving and getting us to this moment, but we hand it to the next generation of leaders. And it's an important part of public service is keeping the people of Michigan at the center of the work. This base is both a cornerstone of Macomb's economy and a vital part of Michigan's overall defense industry. As recently as 2022, the A-10 Warthogs at the Air Base were set to be retired without a replacement. It would have cost us thousands of jobs as well as just simply $30 million in wages alone. Every year since I took office, we have advocated for greater investment here at Selfridge. Working with two different presidents serving on the COG, which General Rogers is the one who encouraged me to do that. The COG is the Council of Governors. It is a group, a small group of governors, bipartisan group who advises the president. Only two of us were held over from one administration to the next. But it's something that I've taken very seriously because our seat at the table matters. I joined Air Force secretaries, thousands of feet in the air, and a Blackhawk to make the case. We hosted defense leaders at Selfridge and other installations in Battle Creek, Alpena, and Grayling. I sat down in the Oval Office to make our case. Local and federal leaders, military members, civilians, Democrats, and Republicans worked together to get this done. And relentless advocacy landed our F-15EX fighter mission here at this base when we hosted the president to come and make the announcement here in person. Michiganders, don't shy away from a challenge. A lot of people were ready to cut the losses and count this base out. Not us. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work, and we wore them out in Washington, D.C. By working as a team, we solidified Michigan's position at the forefront of national defense. Selfridge is just one way we're continuing our legacy. We're leading projects in advanced manufacturing and pioneering new mobility challenges for air, land, and sea. companies from around the world are choosing Michigan to build their next chapter at places like our all domain, or all... oh God help me out, General our national all domain war fighting center which was on the tip of my tongue and our Michigan maritime manufacturing initiative are just a couple of examples of how Michigan is leading the way and people are taking notice from around the around the country and it's something that we've been working at for a long time We built the arsenal of democracy during World War II. Today, we're building the next one. Over the last eight years, we've worked together to strengthen national security, boost our state's economy, and support our military communities for generations to come. And Selfridge represents the very best of that work. So as I think about my time as governor, what's happened on this base, what's happened with the men and women of the Michigan National Guard, will always be an absolute highlight. Thank you so much and congratulations. Let's begin the next new big chapter of what's possible right here at Selfridge. Thank you.