Mariannette Miller-Meeks: “America's warfighters rely on more than courage and training. They rely on an uninterrupted supply of expertly…”

“America's warfighters rely on more than courage and training. They rely on an uninterrupted supply of expertly manufactured weapons, parts, and ammunition. That lifeline begins with our Army arsenals. My amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act protects that lifeline by prohibiting any Federal funds from being used to reduce the workforce at Rock Island Arsenal, Joint Munitions Command, Army Sustainment Command, or any other active U.S. Army arsenal. Rock Island Arsenal is more than just a military installation. It is a critical node in our Nation's defense infrastructure. Its civilian experts, many of them veterans, produce, repair, and innovate the equipment our troops depend on from the front lines to forward operating bases. Every rifle sight calibrated, every artillery shell inspected, and every 3D-printed replacement part shipped from Rock Island shortens the time between a soldier's need and the answer that keeps that soldier alive. This amendment cements their mission readiness. It prevents talent loss, preserves irreplaceable know-how, and keeps our defense industrial base resilient against any adversary who hopes to see it weakened.”