Army Secretary to Illinois / Iowa Delegation: No Proposal to Close JMTC at This Time
Delegation committed to securing the future of JMTC at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – The bipartisan, bi-state delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal today received assurances from Secretary of the Army John McHugh that the Army currently has no plans to close the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) at Rock Island Arsenal. Today’s letter was sent in response to a May 26th letter sent by the delegation called for a meeting with McHugh to discuss their concerns about the cost associated with conducting such a move as well as the impact it would have on the region.
Members of the Illinois / Iowa Delegation – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and U.S. Representatives Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17), Bruce Braley (D-IA-01), and Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02) – vowed to continue working with Secretary McHugh to secure the long-term future of JMTC at Rock Island Arsenal.
In his letters to the Delegation, McHugh stated: “Army Materiel Command (AMC) has made no proposal to close the JMTC at this time. AMC, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, is examining every entity within its command structure in an effort to create a more agile and cost-effective research development and acquisitions system. I assure you that we understand the importance of the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center to your constituency in the Quad Cities region and will keep your concerns in mind as we move forward with our review.”
The Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) is a one-of-a-kind U.S. Army facility which manufactures critical equipment for our troops around the world. The more than 1,700 individuals employed at JMTC specialize in manufacturing artillery, armor, small arms, and mobile maintenance kits for use on the front lines. The JMTC, perhaps best known for howitzer production, operates the Army’s only foundry and since 2003 has produced half of all armor for Army tactical wheeled vehicles. Veterans make up more than half of JMTC’s highly-skilled workforce.
[A copy of the letter sent to Senator Durbin is attached]