WASHINGTON, D.C.(WNAX)- South Dakota Senator John Thune spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of Ellsworth Air Force Base, its airmen, and the surrounding community ahead of the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman’s unveiling of the new B-21 Raider bomber.

Thune says Ellsworth was on the brink of closing.

Thune says expanding their training space around Ellsworth was also a big step.

Thune says the B-21 deployment will need continuing federal investments.

The B-21 officially rolled out Friday at the production facility in California.