Brown Secures More Than $2 Billion in Key Defense Bill to Support Lima's JSMC
Senator Secured Language Authorizing the Investment at JSMC in Senate Bill; Will Continue Fighting to Secure Funds in Final Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that he helped secure more than $2 billion in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support vehicles manufactured at Lima's Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC). Brown helped secure these funds in the House-Senate NDAA conference report, which is expected to pass both chambers over the next week. In June, Brown fought to secure this language for Lima in the Senate's version of the NDAA. The funds still need to be appropriated, and Brown said he will continue fighting to secure these funds in the final Defense Appropriations bill. The programs run out of JSMC will receive funding once both the appropriations and authorization bills have passed.
The bill includes:
$522.9 million to continue Stryker vehicle upgrades
More than $1.75 billion for upgrades to the Abrams Tanks
"The men and women at JSMC perform critical work to increase the survivability and lethality of the vehicles our troops use throughout the world. Abrams and Stryker have proven highly capable time and time again," said Brown. "I've seen JSMC's workforce firsthand and will make sure funding continues to expand production at the facility."
Brown has long fought to ensure Lima's JSMC has the funding it needs to support its missions involving the Stryker vehicles and Abrams Tank.
In May, Brown toured the JSMC after leading efforts to secure investments for JSMC and fighting for its workers.
In 2018, Brown worked to secure more than $1.79 billion to protect critical manufacturing jobs at Lima's JSMC in the FY 2019 defense appropriations bill.
In March 2017, Brown met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to highlight the importance of continued funding for the Abrams Tank and the Stryker Vehicle. In May 2017, Brown wrote to his Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committee colleagues to support inclusion of the Abrams Tank and Stryker Vehicle in both the NDAA and the Defense Appropriations bill.
In October 2016, Brown and U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) brought then-Under Secretary of the Army Patrick J. Murphy to Lima for a tour of the JSMC. Brown and Portman have been longtime champions of the JSMC and have worked over the years with the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) leadership to promote the work done in Lima.
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