Congressman Tim Ryan Secures $270 Million in Federal Defense Funding

Press Release

Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13), a Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded passage of the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense spending bill which Ryan was able to shape using his position on the Subcommittee. The bill funds many local, state, and national programs championed by Ryan, including funding in the bill for two additional new C-130J aircraft for the Air Force Reserve. The two additional planes replace two planes that had likely been destined for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station that were later canceled by President Trump to fund his border wall instead. The spending bill also funds additive manufacturing research and development, laser research, innovative cooling material for military equipment, and other projects.

The $270 million in Defense funding that Ryan was able to secure will create an additional $675 million to $1.59 billion in private sector investment. According to an MIT study, each dollar in publicly funded R&D leads to an additional $2.50-$5.90 in private-sector investment.

"I'm extremely proud to leverage my senior position on the House Appropriations Committee to fund a three percent pay raise for our troops and to bring hundreds of millions back into our local economy to create jobs, improve our nation's competitiveness, and keep our servicemembers safe from harm. These federal funds will create an additional $675 million to $1.59 billion in spinoff private sector investment, which will help our economy come out of this crisis stronger than we entered it," said Congressman Ryan. "Northeast Ohio has top ranked universities, world-class incubators, and people with the determination to help our military and nation out-compete anyone in the world. The funding in this bill ensures we have that opportunity."

"We are elated that the hard work and diligence of Congressman Ryan and his staff have lead to an additional appropriation to replace those C-130's lost to reprogramming earlier this year. Congressman Ryan and our local elected leaders have prioritized YARS, and those efforts have delivered an increase in mission capability, readiness, and the overall military value of the 910th. These efforts will pay dividends toward the long term viability of Trumbull County's number one employer," added Vito Abruzzino, Executive Director of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission (EOMAC). The Commission is a project launched by the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber to preserve and promote the value of military operations between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, with an emphasis on the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center.

FY2021 Defense Funding Bill Highlights

Additional C-130J Aircraft -- Procurement of two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, specifically designated for U.S. Air Force Reserve units. These two aircraft build on four planes Congressman Ryan secured in last year's Defense spending bill which were later reduced to only two in FY2020 due to President Trump's reprogramming of two planes for his border wall construction. The Youngstown Air Reserve Station houses the 910th Airlift Wing, which utilizes older models of C-130 aircraft for its unique aerial spray mission as well as combat support. In January of this year, Air Force Reserve Command announced the 910th Airlift Wing was one of two finalists to receive any new C-130J aircraft.
Hybrid Manufacturing - $5 million to research and develop new manufacturing techniques for rapid tooling and high temperature materials. This is an emerging area of research at both Oak Ridge National Labs and Youngstown State University and builds upon another $10 million for advanced battery research that Congressman Ryan secured this year in the Energy and Water bill.
Advanced Manufacturing Research and Development -- $37 million in research and development funding for large-scale additive manufacturing development, additive manufacturing training programs, and other advanced manufacturing processes. Youngstown, Ohio is home to the U.S. Government's national center for additive manufacturing (America Makes) and a burgeoning additive manufacturing business cluster.
Exploitation Detection for Flexible Combat Avionics -- $5 million in funding for developing critical technologies for cyber security and resilience of Air Force avionics and weapon systems. The University of Akron has a robust research and development program in this field.
Hypersonic engine manufacturing -- $10 million to research new, advanced manufacturing techniques for building hypersonic weapons.
High Energy Laser Weapon System for Counter-UAS -- $5 million in research and development funding for high-energy laser weapon systems to defeat Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). UAS, or drones, have become widely available to both foreign and domestic actors and present an emerging threat.
Passive Cooling Material Technology -- $5 million for research into materials that can cool buildings without using energy.
Buy America provision -- Ryan was the author of a provision to create a new requirement that the Pentagon report to Congress every time it waives rules for domestic sourcing requirements (rules referred to as the Berry Amendment).
Traumatic Brain Injury Baseline Testing -- Ryan authored language requiring the military to begin studying how to incorporate baseline brain injury testing of servicemembers when they enter military to better judge if a servicemember later acquires a traumatic brain injury.
Military nutrition -- Concerned about a growing obesity problem in the armed forces, Congressman Ryan secured language that requires pilot programs to reform the military nutrition and dining system.

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