U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., has spent most of the past year calling on the federal government to rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base which was damaged heavily when Hurricane Michael hit Florida back in October. But the second term congressman is backing the Trump administration’s efforts to move military construction funds–including $17 million penciled in to build a fire station at Tyndall–in order to build a wall to secure the southern border from illegal immigration.
Dunn told WJHG that he backed the president’s proposal and blamed the Democrats for not securing the border.
“It is unfortunate that the Democrats’ refusal to address the crisis at our border forced the president to use money already set aside for other military construction projects to continue construction of the border wall,” Dunn told WJHG. “While the Fire/Crash Station will one day be an important piece of Tyndall’s infrastructure, this short-term funding shift will have no impact on the future of the base.”
Dunn insisted President Donald Trump remained supportive of North Florida as it continues to recover from last year’s hurricane.
“I am grateful for the president’s ongoing commitment to the people of North Florida and look forward to continuing to work with his team to ensure the rebuild stays on track,” Dunn said to WJHG.
First elected to Congress in 2016, Dunn represents all of Bay, Calhoun, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Gulf, Jackson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington Counties and parts of Columbia, Holmes, Jefferson, Leon and Marion Counties. The district is reliably Republican.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
