We must complete the runway and ramp projects at the 185th
In October, my biannual 36 County Tour took me to the 185th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) in Sioux City to meet with members of the Iowa Air National Guard and receive an update on ongoing military construction projects at the base. While I’ve been fortunate to tour the 185th on several occasions, this visit was especially memorable. I had the opportunity to fly in a KC-135 Stratotanker and participate in a refueling mission with F-16 fighter jets from the South Dakota Air National Guard. To say that this experience was incredible is an understatement. It was the embodiment of American ingenuity and the exceptionalism of our military.
The 185th Air Refueling Wing has long been critical to our economy, our region, and our national security. Nearly 900 Airmen work around the clock to support our military and ensure that the KC-135 refueling tankers housed at the base operate properly. Due to the professionalism and hard work of these airmen, the 185th has been recognized on multiple accounts as an Air Force Outstanding Unit for seven years in a row and most recently received the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award in 2022. It also passed Mobility Command inspections in 2022 and 2023 with great results. Needless to say, the 185th is a well-oiled machine.
In my conversations with military and community leaders, the top priority for the 185th – including Major General Stephen Osborn who serves as the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard – is the replacement of the current runway and the construction of an aircraft parking ramp. These two projects will help the 185th continue to fulfill its mission, support the 322,500-pound KC-135s, and respond to refueling requests as quickly and safely as possible – all without having to seek takeoff waivers or jump through other unnecessary hoops. Even more promising is that – this past August – both infrastructure projects reached the 35% design stage as required by the federal government to be considered for FYDP and will achieve 100% design completion by next summer. Pending the funding needed, this timeline would allow construction to begin by Fiscal Year 2026.
That’s why, like I’ve done in years past, I recently led my colleagues in the Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota delegations in sending a letter to the Acting Director of the Air National Guard, Major General Duke Pirak, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin requesting that ongoing runway and ramp projects at the 185th be included in the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) for Fiscal Year 2026. The FYDP is a five-year plan established by the U.S. Department of Defense that pinpoints, prioritizes, and suggests funding for future military construction initiatives like the runway and ramp projects at the 185th. Being included in FYDP would unlock and deploy needed capital to fund the runway and ramp projects through completion and bring our taxpayer dollars back to Iowa – where they belong.
In addition to my letter to the Air National Guard and the Department of Defense, I sent a separate letter to the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee asking that the FAA Central Region be granted additional flexibility and resources to fund military construction projects at locations like the 185th. Every day that the 185th is denied the financial support that it needs to carry out its mission and support the 900 Airmen who work at the base, our national security is threatened and the families and communities that rely on the success of this important military installation face lingering uncertainty. The most recent repairs to the runway took place in 2022 and will likely only extend the life of the runway until 2027.
The 185th is a source of great pride in Sioux City, across our state, and around the Midwest. The men and women who have committed their time and talent to the success of this important base are truly great Americans and make incredible contributions to Iowa. Representing the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Congress, I will continue to advocate for the completion of the runway and ramp projects so that Iowa remains an important pillar of our national security.
This op-ed was originally published in the Sioux City Journal on January 4, 2024.