WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report includes more than $58 million for military construction projects at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It includes:

·       $23.5 Million to upgrade the existing Type II hydrant fuel system to a Type III system, and

·       $35 Million in Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP) funding to construct NASIC’s Facility Central Utility Plant.

The Senate is set to consider the conference report and vote on it in the coming days. The funds still need to be appropriated, and Brown will continue fighting to secure these funds in the final Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.

“These key investments will ensure that Wright-Patt’s highly-skilled Airmen, civilians and contractors can continue to do their critical national security missions. Their work enables the Air Force to keep us safe and helps power the Miami Valley’s local economy. These projects are important steps to make sure Wright-Patt is energy efficient and has the capacity to meet refueling needs,” said Brown.

In December 2019, Brown successfully secured a number of key investments for Wright-Patt in a spending package that was signed into law, including resources to support critical research and development programs run out of Wright-Patt’s Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), funds to support military construction of Wright-Patt’s new National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), and resources to support improvements and rehabilitation efforts for Wright-Patt’s historic Brick Quarters Housing District.

In 2018, Brown was able to help secure more funding for NASIC construction than ever before, when the NDAA authorized $182 million for phase one and two of NASIC’s expansion. The project received an appropriation authorization of $61 million for Fiscal Year 2019 to begin construction.

Brown also wrote to then-DOD Secretary Jim Mattis in 2018, calling for an investment at NASIC, along with other Ohio priorities. And in 2017, Brown spoke to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson about investing in construction needs at the base. Prior to that, in 2017, Brown – as co-chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus – brought his Republican caucus co-chair John Boozman (R-AR), Armed Services Committee Members Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) to visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and tour the facility. Together, Brown and Portman highlighted critical research and development work done at the base in support of the Air Force and national security.

Brown also met with Sec. Mattis in 2017 to outline Ohio military priorities. During the meeting, Brown invited Mattis to visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air National Guard 178th Wing in Springfield.

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