Brown Secures $8.7 Million for Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Key Defense Bill

Statement

Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Senate-passed FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes more than $8.7 million for military construction projects at Camp Ravenna and the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS). The funding authorized in the FY22 NDAA will be used to widen the assault runway in order to meet mission requirements. Brown will continue to fight to ensure the funding is appropriated in the FY 22 appropriations process. Brown helped secure these funds in the House-Senate NDAA conference report, which now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.

"Widening the runway at Youngstown Air Reserve Station is a crucial investment in the infrastructure, that will improve training and highlight how important the Mahoning Valley is to our national defense," said Brown. "These critical upgrades help to support those who have sworn to protect us."

The funding authorized in the FY22 NDAA will be used to widen the assault runway in order to meet mission requirements. Brown will continue to fight to ensure the funding is appropriated in the FY 22 appropriations process.

Brown has been a strong advocate for YARS:

Last year, Brown and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced an amendment to the Senate's FY 2021 NDAA to require the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide Congress with a report on the cost and benefits of maintaining a specific number of primary aircraft for each type of Air Force squadron, particularly those that fly specialty missions flown by the Air Force Reserve units, like the 910th at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS).

Brown also joined his Senate Democratic colleagues last year in introducing the Restoring Military Priorities Act of 2020, which would reverse and restore the Department of Defense's (DoD) recent shortsighted and dangerous transfer of $3.8 billion to be used to build part of then-President Trump's ineffective and inefficient border wall. The Trump administration's move to transfer funds would have jeopardized whether Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS) will receive the C-130J aircraft, and upgrade from the C-130H flown there.

Source