DAYTON — Dayton Congressman Mike Turner is two days into a new promotion as he is now the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee in Washington.
Turner holds one of the top national security positions in Congress. He is one of eight elected officials in the Senate and the House that have top security clearances in Congress.
“Dealing with our most sensitive information and of course security issues with the administration and Congress,” Turner said.
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News Center 7′s John Bedell sat down one-on-one with Turner and said his new position means he’ll be able to be a stronger advocate in Washington for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the missions there.
“Having this clearance gives me access to the individuals who are the frontline decision makers that affect Wright-Patterson Air Force Base directly. But also, I’ll be able to talk to those individuals that affect those missions on the classified side with both knowledge and understanding of what we’re doing, what Wright-Patt is doing, and how it fits within our national security,” Turner said.
Now that President Biden has signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law, News Center 7 asked Turner about it. The law has allowed tens of millions of dollars to be officially allocated to support missions and new construction at WPAFB, including a new childcare center on base.
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“For those parents that work at the base who want childcare for their children. It had been off base in a facility that wasn’t really suited. This gives us the ability to expand both the numbers of children that can receive this opportunity but also right there on base with their parents,” Turner said.
With the new position, if the Republicans regain control of the House in this year’s mid-term election, Turner is inline to become chair of the House Intelligence Committee.