Congressman Tim Ryan today made the following statement today after voting in favor of the FY2017 Defense Appropriations bill on the House Floor. Ryan is a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.
"I am proud to use my position on the Defense Appropriations Committee to craft this important legislation that gives our Armed Forces the resources and funding they need to serve and protect the United States of America and positively impacts our community -- including potential opportunities for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Youngstown State University and America Makes. This legislation provides a well-deserved and hard-earned 2.1 percent pay increase for our men and women in uniform. Further, I am pleased we are fully funding the European Reassurance Initiative where the Ohio National Guard has deployed," said Congressman Ryan.
Congressman Ryan helped secure $10 million in funding for an additive manufacturing innovation research program based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Youngstown State University, America Makes and the University of Dayton Research Institute previously won a competitive contract in Fiscal Year 2015 to carry out the work on an earlier phase of that same program. The program seeks to increase the use of additive manufacturing in the military. This is the third year in a row Ryan has secured $10 million for this program.
Congressman Ryan also inserted language into the report accompanying the spending bill which seeks to provide new C-130J airplanes for Air Force Reserve Specialized Missions. The 910th Airlift Wing is one of three specialty missions in the Air Force and is solely responsible for the Department of Defense's aerial spraying capability. Ryan's language directs the Chief of the Air Force Reserve to prioritize units with the oldest equipment when deciding which specialty missions to upgrade.