Reps. Takano, Torres Seek New Information from U.S. Air Force Secretary on Decision to Repatriate Americans from Wuhan, China to March Air Reserve Base
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) sent a letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett requesting more information on the decision to repatriate U.S. diplomats and citizens to March Air Reserve Base and expressing concern over the lack of transparency behind this decision.
In the letter, the Members state, “Some Members of Congress were first notified of, but not consulted on, this decision on the evening of January 29, 2020 by officials from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Other Members were told the flight was being diverted away from Ontario International Airport, the initial destination, but were not informed of the final destination. However, the one consistency is that we have yet to receive any contact or update from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on this flight or any future plans to repatriate additional individuals at March Air Reserve Base.”
They continue, “We are deeply troubled by this lack of transparency. Any unilateral decisions in this regard has had and will continue to have lasting impacts on the employees and citizens at March as well as members of the surrounding community.”
Full text of the letter can be found here and below:
February 1, 2020
The Honorable Barbara M. Barrett
Secretary of the Air Force
United States Air Force
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330-1670
Dear Secretary Barbara Barrett:
On Wednesday, January 29, 2020, Kalitta Air Flight #371 arrived at the March Air Reserve Base at 8:11AM PST carrying approximately 210 U.S. Citizens from Wuhan, China. The flight was ordered by the U.S. Department of State in order to repatriate U.S. residents from Wuhan, China in the wake of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak.
Some Members of Congress were first notified of, but not consulted on, this decision on the evening of January 29, 2020 by officials from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Other Members were told the flight was being diverted away from Ontario International Airport, the initial destination, but were not informed of the final destination. However, the one consistency is that we have yet to receive any contact or update from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on this flight or any future plans to repatriate additional individuals at March Air Reserve Base.
We are deeply troubled by this lack of transparency. Any unilateral decisions in this regard has had and will continue to have lasting impacts on the employees and citizens at March as well as members of the surrounding community. We respectfully request answers to the following questions:
- Which agencies and officials were directly involved in the decision-making process to redirect Kalitta Air Flight #371 to March Air Reserve Base?
- Which agencies and officials will be directly involved in plans to direct additional flights to March Air Reserve Base or other military facilities across the country?
- Which specific factors were taken into consideration when a final decision was made to repatriate these Americans to March Air Reserve Base?
- Did the Air Force consider the impact that repatriation of these U.S. Citizens would have on the mission at March Air Reserve Base? If so, how will the repatriation of these individuals impact the current mission at March Air Reserve Base?
- Is the Air Force planning to direct additional flights and repatriate additional individuals at March Air Reserve Base? If so, how many flights and how many additional individuals are expected?
- Does March Air Reserve Base have sufficient capacity to absorb these additional individuals? HHS has indicated in recent discussions that March ARB has a total capacity of 300 individuals and thus other sites are being considered for the repatriation of US citizens.
- Can you confirm that March Air Reserve Base is not the only site being considered for the repatriation of American citizens and that other sites are being actively considered? If so, which other military facilities are being considered?
- HHS has indicated that the use of local hotels or facilities to house the individuals in quarantine was not a viable option. Can you verify this statement and affirm that the use of hotels or other facilities in the community is still no longer under consideration?
- What precautions are being taken at March Air Reserve Base to prevent the spread of coronavirus within March and the surrounding community?
If you have questions about this letter, please contact Justin.Maturo@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-2305. Please respond to the questions in this letter by February 3, 2020.
Sincerely,
MARK TAKANO NORMA J. TORRES
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Press Contact
Dayanara Ramirez (202) 225-2305