WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), along with his Iowa colleagues and South Dakota’s federal congressional delegation, is urging the heads of the Air National Guard and Department of Defense (DOD) to support long-needed military construction projects at the 185 Air Refueling Wing (ARW) in Sioux City. An excerpt from their letter, led by Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), follows:
“Precautions have been taken with [the ARW’s] runway and ramp’s inadequate thickness and length, requiring operational weight limitations and airfield waivers. Additionally, the base is getting by with a 1957 vintage hangar that inhibits the efficiency of operations, causes increased wear on vehicles, and suffers from deteriorating water and electrical systems. Given these current limitations, the wing can only meet 64% of current mission requirements,” the lawmakers wrote. “Despite these challenges, the 185 ARW has received multiple Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, including the most recent Air Force Meritorious Unit Award in 2022…”
“We thank you both for your leadership of the Air National Guard and ask for full and thorough consideration of these runway and hangar projects for the [Future Years Defense Program (FYDP)] as they reach the necessary design requirements,” the lawmakers concluded.
The 185 ARW earlier this year requested DOD include the aforementioned projects, among others, in the FYDP. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa) and her counterparts from Nebraska and South Dakota reiterated their support for these federal resources in October.
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