Local Governments Show Support for Gaetz's Push for Gulf Test Range Expansion

PENSACOLA — The county commissions from each of the five counties in Florida's First Congressional District — Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Holmes — have signed resolutions in support of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz's push for $30 million in increased funding to the Gulf Test Range, a 120,000-square-mile area of over-water airspace extending from the Florida Panhandle to the Florida Keys.

Military air training operations are currently constrained to the northern portion of the Gulf of Mexico, due south of Eglin Air Force Base, resulting in aircraft congestion and a reduction of mission-critical training flights.

A recent study revealed that aircraft congestion has prevented at least 80 training missions per year, and has kept numerous F-35 and F-22 warfighters from undertaking mission-relevant training.

"Military training is crucial to our national defense," Gaetz said in a press release. "Unfortunately, this training has been hindered by congestion and geographical limitations. This is unacceptable."