Quad Cities region secures 2019 legislative successes for Rock Island Arsenal

The Quad Cities region was successful in securing several legislative victories in 2019 that will continue to support the Rock Island Arsenal’s sustainability and impact. The Rock Island Arsenal has been producing Army readiness since 1862. 

“The Quad Cities region has a long history of collaborating to support the Rock Island Arsenal and our region’s defense industry,” said Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher. “We appreciate our Iowa and Illinois congressional delegation’s active engagement to ensure the Rock Island Arsenal continues to support our nation’s security while maximizing its impact to our regional economy.”

“The men and women who work at the Rock Island Arsenal are some of the best and brightest people I’ve had the chance to meet,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. “One of my top priorities is securing federal dollars to support operations at the Arsenal – it boosts our nation’s security as well as the economy of the Quad Cities region and the State of Illinois.”

“The Rock Island Arsenal plays an important role in our national security and helps create jobs that generate economic development throughout the Quad Cities region, and I’m proud my provisions to help ensure the long-term success of the Arsenal were included in last year’s defense authorization bill,” said U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. “I will continue working with local leaders to support jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal and encourage economic investments in the Quad Cities area for local businesses and working families alike.”

“The long-term success of the Rock Island Arsenal is crucial not only to the local economy, but also our national security,” said U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. “I’m happy that Congress enacted appropriations for programs that support the Arsenal that I advocated for, including continued manufacturing work at the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center and investments in community infrastructure.”

“The Rock Island Arsenal is vital to the strength of our regional economy,” said U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. “Our nation’s defense and readiness runs right through the Quad Cities with the expertise of the Arsenal. I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish in Congress this year on behalf of the Arsenal, and I’ll continue to work alongside my colleagues and regional leaders to further expand their efforts and capabilities.”

Throughout 2019 the Quad Cities region advocated for several priorities for the Rock Island Arsenal in these three key areas:

1. Support the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) – Joint Manufacturing & Technology Center (JMTC)

• In the last fiscal year, Congress directed $127 million for the continuance of the Humvee (HMMWV) ambulance production, a line that RIA-JMTC has been producing since 2014. 
• The appropriation bill identified $10 million in new howitzer production.
• In addition, the appropriation bill identified $85 million to work on the next generation of the Shop Equipment Contact Maintenance (SECM) system, a mobile shop shelter that is mounted on the back of a Humvee. In 2010, RIA-JMTC was designated a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Mobile Maintenance systems, which included the SECM.

2. Ramp up production at the Army’s Advanced and Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence

• Congress appropriated $4 million to accelerate the Additive and Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence (COE), allowing continued operations and procurement of additional advanced manufacturing equipment to provide support to activity operations.
• Congress provided additional funding to complete renovations to buildings within the Arsenal to support the COE.
• The appropriations bill outlined a new Large Scale Additive Concept aimed at partnering opportunities with the COE and engineering commands for research and development of a jointless hull to possibly be used in the next generation combat vehicle.

3. Continue to build infrastructure and partnership on the Rock Island Arsenal
In addition to the manufacturing facility, other tenant commands and organizations, such as the U.S. Army Sustainment Command, First U.S. Army, U.S. Joint Munitions Command and many others, have nearly 7,000 employees.

• The Defense Community Infrastructure Program helps improve infrastructure outside of the Arsenal while improving military value. The program helps local communities offset costs to address critical infrastructure upgrades that are needed to support the Department of Defense’s mission. 
• The Defense Manufacturing Communities program helps support and grow skill sets of RIA employees. The program will make long‐term investments in critical skills, research and development and small business support in order to strengthen the national security innovation base, working in coordination with the defense manufacturing institutes.  
• $52 million was committed to renovate the headquarters of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command.

Last week, a group from the Quad Cities region met in Washington, D.C. with Congressional senior staff from the Quad Cities delegations, Department of Defense and Army Leadership at the Pentagon and other federal agencies, including the Office of Economic Adjustment. Read more about the 2020 legislative priorities for the Rock Island Arsenal here.