YOUNGSTOWN, O.H. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) participated in the Youngstown Air Force Reserve Station ribbon cutting ceremony for their indoor firing range. In 2015, Portman secured the $9.4 million in funding to upgrade this indoor firing range facility. Following the ribbon cutting, Portman also delivered remarks at the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission Annual Meeting and discussed the importance of the Youngstown Air Force Reserve Station (YARS) to the Youngstown community and to our country. Portman has long fought for YARS, which employs more than 1,800 people, to ensure it has the resources it needs to perform its mission.
“Today, I was able to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony for YARS’ impressive, indoor firing range. This new range will allow year-round training for our airmen and provide opportunities to strengthen relationships with our community law enforcement partners,” said Portman. “YARS, the fourth-largest employer in the Mahoning Valley, has had a significant economic impact on the region, deployed its resources to those in need across the globe, and defended the values we hold dearest as Americans. The projects undertaken at YARS would not be possible without the support and advocacy of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission, and I was honored to speak at their meeting today as they work to promote Eastern Ohio’s vital military footprint.”
Earlier this week, Portman announced that the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act includes $8.8 million to relocate the main gate at YARS to improve security and the flow of people and cargo on and off this busy facility. In 2016, the president signed-into-law Portman’s legislation requiring the Air Force to prioritize C-130 upgrades for YARS, an upgrade that would strengthen its mission capabilities. Portman has been urging the Air Force to replace YARS’ 910th Airlift Wing’s current fleet of C-130H aircraft with new C-130J aircraft to ensure that the 910th’s Department of Defense (DoD)-mandated specialized aerial spray mission continues safely and without interruption. Portman, who has consistently used his position as a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to advocate on behalf of YARS and its Airmen, will continue fighting to ensure that YARS has the leading edge capabilities needed to carry out their critically important national and homeland security missions.
Photos from the event are below:
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