Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, speaks to media during a tour of Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield in April. (Photo provided — Amanda Morrison, Watertown Daily Times)

Rep. Elise Stefanik expressed hope that the Republican control of both houses of Congress and election of Donald Trump could push forward a new East Coast missile site.

“I hope the Trump administration will understand the importance of missile defense, and that’s something we can work on with the Senate,” Stefanik told the Times. “I believe you’ll see more support from Congress for missile defense.”

Fort Drum is pitted against Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center, Ohio, and Fort Custer Training Center, Michigan, to be the preferred site for an East Coast missile site. Once a site is selected, Congress will have to make a decision on funding the creation of such a site, which could cost $4 billion or more.

The project could create hundreds of temporary and permanent jobs, along with millions of dollars of direct and indirect economic impacts for Jefferson County.

In past years, House Republican attempts to provide funding toward researching the sites have been blocked in the Senate.

Stefanik argued the Obama administration was not supportive of missile defense.

Top officials, such as Navy Vice Adm. James D. Syring, director of the Missile Defense Agency, have said the creation of a new site, in addition to those in Alaska and California, is unneccesary.

Rep. William “Mac” Thornberry, R-Texas, chair of the House Armed Services Committee, made criticisms similar of Syring’s and the administration’s when he visited Fort Drum in August.

Stefanik informed the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization last week that the decision on a preferred location for the missile site, expected by the end of the year, will be pushed into 2017.

She told the Times that her office worked with the Department of Defense weekly about the missile decision.

Stefanik added that she appreciated the support of fellow New York lawmakers and residents who made public comments in support of the project.

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(Editor’s note: Four daily newspapers in the North Country — the Enterprise, Post-Star of Glens Falls, Watertown Daily Times and Press-Republican of Plattsburgh — are sharing content to better cover New York’s 21st Congressional District.)