Letter to the Honorable James N. Mattis, Secretary of Defense - Camp Revenna Ideal Location for Missile Defense Site

Letter

Congressman Bill Johnson released the following statement regarding a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis in support of Camp Ravenna being selected as the East Coast Missile Defense site. The letter, led by Johnson, was signed by Ohio's two senators and 14 of Ohio's Members of Congress:

Letter can be viewed here:
https://billjohnson.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Ohio_Delegation_Camp_Ravenna_Support_Letter_3.05.2018.pdf

"I am pleased to join leaders and groups across Ohio supporting the effort to bring the East Coast Missile Defense site to Camp Ravenna," Bill Johnson said. "A new missile defense site is more strategically important than ever in a world with emerging threats like Russia, China, Iran, and an ever more obstinate North Korea - and I'm glad President Trump is serious about taking all steps to defend the homeland. I will continue to impress upon the Department of Defense that Camp Ravenna is the best location to host the East Coast Missile Defense site."

"Camp Ravenna's location, infrastructure, and the surrounding local workforce make it the prime location to build the East Coast Missile Defense Site," Tim Ryan said. "My tour of Camp Ravenna last month further reinforces my confidence in our ability and readiness to take on this national security endeavor. It's critical that we act now to upgrade our nation's defenses, and Northeast Ohio is the perfect place to accomplish that."

"The threat to our homeland from ballistic missiles is constantly growing," said Senator Rob Portman. "We must continue to bolster our defenses and adding a third ground-based interceptor site is an important part of that strategy. Camp Ravenna is uniquely suited to house that site -- providing a cost-efficient and effective location to help defend us. I've continued to make that case to the Defense Department and I look forward to hearing their assessment soon."

"Ohioans take great pride in the mission at Camp Ravenna, and this is an opportunity to build on this site's contributions to our national defense," said Senator Sherrod Brown. "Placing the missile defense interceptor site here would give the Missile Defense Agency access to Ohio's world-class workforce, and its proximity to Akron and Youngstown would help ensure timely construction by Ohio workers."

"Northeast Ohio appreciates the leadership of the Ohio delegation in making sure the Department of Defense understands the unique suitability of Camp Ravenna to host the East Coast Missile Defense site," said Vito Abruzzino, Executive Director of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission. "The country needs an East Coast site to protect the nation and its citizens from new and resurgent potential ballistic threats."

"We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of our delegation to harness the potential of the Ravenna site. Ravenna represents the lowest cost, easiest to construct option for the Department of Defense. I am pleased to join Chamber members and leadership across the state to support this effort. The economic impact of a Ravenna selection will be felt all across Northeast Ohio, and has the support not only of the local business community, but of the State legislature, as well as civic and labor leaders across the region," said James Dignan, President of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.

The Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission (EOMAC) was formed in 2015 to preserve and promote the value of military operations between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, with an emphasis on the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Camp Ravenna Joint Training Center.