House Passes Defense Bill, Sorensen Highlights Wins for Rock Island Arsenal and IL-17

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is proud to announce major victories for the Rock Island Arsenal and communities across Illinois' 17th Congressional District in this year's national defense legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congressman Sorensen voted to support the defense bill after securing critical provisions to protect jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal, support the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, and strengthen Central and Northwestern Illinois.

"We must do everything we can to put our servicemembers and military families first. These investments give our neighbors the support they deserve and help safeguard the jobs that drive our local economy," said Congressman Sorensen. "Improving childcare, protecting the C-130 fleet and investing in the Arsenal all deliver meaningful results for Central and Northwestern Illinois."

Earlier this summer, Sorensen announced a series of major IL-17 victories included in the House-passed NDAA. Those provisions strengthen the Arsenal, support working families, and reinforce our national security.

Key wins for IL-17 and the Rock Island Arsenal include:

• Congressman Sorensen's Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, which incentivizes private industry to partner with arsenals by giving preference to public-private partnerships in Army contracting, creating a more predictable, sustained workload to protect and create jobs.

• The bill bans the Army's funding to restructure the Rock Island Arsenal's Army Sustainment Command (ASC) and Joint Munitions Command (JMC), until they provide a plan that includes a timeline and information about any job cuts and the impact to our readiness.

• Authorizes $50 million for the Rock Island Arsenal's Child Development Center to consolidate the existing facilities and make upgrades to meet DoD guidelines and safety requirements, ensuring that eligible families at the Rock Island Arsenal have a safe, modern facility for childcare.

• Authorizes $5 million in design funding for a forging equipment annex at the Rock Island Arsenal's Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center to support a wide array of weapon systems across all of the services.

• The Army will be required to provide more information about upcoming changes tied to its Army Transformation Initiative-ensuring communities like those around the Rock Island Arsenal are informed and prepared.

• To protect the civilian workforce, the bill requires DoD to justify major reductions in force by considering readiness, effectiveness, and fully burdened costs and notify Congress.

• The Department of Defense is directed to explore public-private partnerships at arsenals and other key military industrial sites, opening the door to local innovation and economic growth.

• An extension of the Army's online real estate tool pilot program that the Rock Island Arsenal participates in.

• The bill ensures the Air Force maintains at least 271 C-130 aircraft and prohibits the reduction of C-130 aircraft assigned to the Air National Guard, preserving critical operations tied to the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria.

Big wins that benefit our servicemembers and national security include:

• 3.8% pay raises for all military personnel.

• Authorizes funding for new and improved barracks, dormitories, child development centers, and family housing.

• Requires any troop deployed in the U.S. to clearly identify their service branch.

• Repeals the 1991 and 2002 Iraq and Gulf War Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs).

• Reauthorizes the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and extends a limitation on recognizing Russian sovereignty over any part of Ukraine.

• Authorizes funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.

While Congressman Sorensen voted in support of the NDAA, he strongly opposes the inclusion of the provision that discriminates against LGBTQ+ servicemembers at the military service academies and Republican leadership's decision to remove protections for collective bargaining. Congressman Sorensen will keep working to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and union workers on the Armed Services Committee.

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.