Quincy Reporter

U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis and Darin LaHood recently announced that the 183d Air Wing Base Project included in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will receive $10.2 million for development.

 “The NDAA is critical, must-pass legislation that funds our military and  makes the necessary investments to keep our country safe from our  adversaries and other global threats. This year’s NDAA includes  important provisions, such as a pay raise for our troops, increased  military funding, new resources to combat terrorism and hold China accountable, a review of the outdated Selective Service System, social  media protections for our troops, prohibitions on DOD giving  dishonorable discharges to troops who decline the COVID vaccine, and  much more,” Davis said in a release. 

“I’m also excited to  announce with Congressman LaHood that the FY22 NDAA includes funding for  a project request we jointly made for the 183d Air Wing Base in  Springfield," he continued. "Our troops here in central Illinois deserve to have a  proper facility to meet their maintenance and preparedness needs. This  project would support their important mission. I’m glad that both  parties came together to reach an agreement on the NDAA because politics  should never interfere with our national defense and security. We must  never allow our military to be defunded.”

Rep. Rodney Davis

Davis and LaHood had requested $10.2 million for a base civil engineer complex for the  Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Wing. 

“I am proud to support the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act,  which includes critical funding to help build and upgrade the Base Civil  Engineer Complex for the Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Wing in  Springfield. The men and women in the 183rd deserve up-to-date resources  to continue providing exceptional emergency response and support services,” LaHood said in the release. “On top of key funding for  Illinois, this bill makes certain that all of our military personnel  get the support they need, makes America safer, and sends a strong  message to our adversaries around the globe. We face ever-evolving  21st-century threats, and as a member of the House Intelligence  Committee, I’ll continue to work with my colleagues to ensure the men  and women who serve in Illinois and throughout our Armed Forces have the  resources they need.”

The development was proposed by the 183rd Wing of the Illinois Air National Guard and supported by the Department of Defense and also had the backing of Springfield Mayor Jim  Langfelder and Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport Executive Director Mark  Hanna.