Illinois / Iowa Delegation Seeks Substantive Answers from Army on Arsenal
Lawmakers Ask Army for Transparency, Accountability
[WASHINGTON, DC] – In a letter sent today by the bi-state delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Congressman Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17), Bruce Braley (D-IA-01), and Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02) pushed for substantive answers to questions surrounding the future of the Rock Island Arsenal from General Ann Dunwoody, Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command (AMC). Following the letter the same group sent yesterday, the lawmakers today reiterated the need for substantive answers to questions they have raised surrounding the jobs and workload at Rock Island’s Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC); locating the Expeditionary Contracting Command (ECC) in Huntsville, Alabama away from the Army Sustainment Command (ASC); efforts to establish capabilities to perform work at Picatinny that has historically been done at Rock Island; and rumors of another round of base closures.
“We are deeply concerned that closing the JMTC is a potential approach being considered… (and) cannot understand how this is a course of action that will provide the needed cost savings. … We do, however, understand how it would negatively impact our national security and we find that to be unacceptable,” the group wrote to Secretary of the Army John McHugh and General Ann Dunwoody, the Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command which oversees the JMTC’s operations.
The letter goes on to note that the assignment of ECC, whose mission closely aligns with the ASC and would not be supportable at Huntsville, and would therefore not be an efficiency but an increased cost. A copy of the lawmakers’ letters requesting a detailed response to their concerns is attached.
Today’s letters are attached.