WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), along with Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), to introduce the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act to boost workload at Army arsenals, including Rock Island Arsenal. The bipartisan legislation incentivizes private industry to partner with arsenals by giving preference to public-private partnerships in Army contracting.
“Expanding on successful initiatives at the Rock Island Arsenal will help increase public-private partnerships in Army contracting and spur investments in our industrial base. In the face of growing threats abroad, there are clear economic and security reasons for encouraging these investments. I’m proud to join my bistate colleagues to introduce this legislation that recognizes the Arsenal strengthens our competitive military advantage, supports local communities and bolsters our national defense,” Grassley said.
“Outfitted to manufacture the defense articles for our military’s readiness, Rock Island Arsenal is critical to both our national security and the economy of the Quad Cities region. To ensure that Rock Island Arsenal has the resources it needs to sustain its top-notch production, I’m introducing the bipartisan Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act with Congressman Sorensen and Senators Duckworth and Grassley to support the Arsenal’s mission and maintain its workload,” Durbin said.
“The Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance is in strong support of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act. This legislation is critical to ensuring a more sustainable workload for Rock Island Arsenal, as well as other arsenals across the country. The bill is an innovative approach that would encourage more and greater public-private partnerships between the Arsenal and the defense industrial base to meet the needs of the warfighter. This legislation is long overdue and should help to provide more predictability to the workload at the Arsenal. We look forward to working with our delegation to include this legislation in the annual defense policy bill,” said Mayor Mike Matson of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance (RIADA) Board of Directors Chairman.
“The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce supports the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act. The legislation would help to sustain the region’s top employer - Rock Island Arsenal. The legislation proposes an innovative approach to developing and sustaining a more predictable workload for Rock Island Arsenal. We appreciate the congressional delegation’s continued and strong support for all activities at Rock Island Arsenal. Their help and support should help to ensure that the Arsenal remains a top employer for the region that has direct benefits throughout our regional economy. We look forward to working with the congressional delegation to advance this legislation,” said Peter Tokar III, President and CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.
Background:
The Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act would establish a preference for public-private partnerships by providing a non-public entity a 20 percent preference in the source selection process if it uses a government-owned and government-operated Army arsenal as a partner. In addition, the bill would require the Department of Defense to provide relevant congressional committees with an annual report on workload at the arsenals and capital investments to help ensure sustainment of the arsenals.
Currently, no workload requirement exists for Army arsenals. The Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act addresses this by providing arsenals with a more predictable, sustained workload throughout the year and allowing them to keep costs low while remaining competitive with private industry in the manufacturing or procurement of defense products. The bill would directly impact Rock Island Arsenal, helping the arsenal to maintain existing jobs, attract new projects and workers, and keep costs down.
Grassley has long been a champion for Rock Island Arsenal, including through his legislation to expand manufacturing opportunities for Army arsenals. He has also secured provisions in appropriations legislation and the annual defense bill to help ensure the long term viability of the Rock Island Arsenal.