HARRISON TWP. (WWJ) -- Michigan is taking a big step forward when it comes to contributing to U.S. national defense.
Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County is getting $3 million in funding from next year's national defense budget to establish a Northern Border Mission Center.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Jeremy Jenkins spoke with U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, who played a key role in securing the funding.
"Basically, this center will work across all of the different aspects of the Department of Homeland Security to make sure that the northern border is secure. It'll coordinate activities, it'll monitor activities, basically do what a similar center does down on the southern border," Peters explained.
"But we know that we also have a northern border in our country that we also need to ensure a secure that will now be established.
"And I'm really excited that we'll be able to get it at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which now means Selfridge has another very important mission, not just to protect us here in Michigan, but the entire country."
Peters said this addition at Selfridge is a pretty big deal for the State of Michigan.
"It certainly will mean jobs and additional, really, visibility for the importance of Selfridge as part or our homeland and national security," Peters said. "Selfridge National Guard hosts not just the Air National Guard, but also a number of units for homeland security: the Coast Guard, for example. Their air station is there. They also have their air marine unit that operate a number of aircraft."
Peters said Selfridge was the obvious choice, because the base already operates a number of critical functions for homeland security.
"With this Northern Border Mission Center, it really puts us in the middle of security efforts across the county, from sea to sea," Peters added. "And I think it just ensures that Selfridge will continue to play a vital role in our homeland and national security for years to come."