Mass. Politicians Ask Pentagon To Keep Hanscom Base's Rank

BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts Congressional delegation is again pushing the Pentagon to retain a Bedford Air Force Base's three-star-ranking, in spite of potential defense cuts and reorganization.

U.S. senators and representatives from Massachusetts penned their second letter to the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff on Tuesday, urging them to allow electronic acquisitions work at the Hanscom Air Force Base to be overseen by a Lieutenant General.

The delegation sent a similar letter to the Pentagon in April.

Since then, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013, which aimed to retain the capabilities of Air Force bases like Hanscom, among other things.

The bill is still being debated and finalized.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.