Congressman Tim Ryan and Members of the Ohio Delegation Push for Missile Defense System to be Locate

WASHINGTON, DC —Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH) and 16 Members of the Ohio Delegation are urging Vice Admiral James D. Syring, Director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), to select Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center as the preferred site for the East Coast Missile Defense System. Ryan represents Ohio's 13th Congressional District which includes Camp Ravenna. Signers of the letter included Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Senator Sherrod Brown (DOH), and Representatives Steve Stivers (R-OH), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Pat Tiberi (R-OH), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Jim Renacci (R-OH), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Bob Latta (R-OH), and Steve Chabot (R-OH). "Ohioans stand ready to support the defense of our nation and look forward to this potential opportunity to strengthen the regional economy," the letter stated. Missile Defense Systems are used to intercept ballistic missiles headed for American soil. In 2013, Congress voted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act to require the MDA to conduct environmental impact studies to search for potential sites for an East Coast Missile Defense System. With growing threats to our national security, especially from Iran and North Korea, an East Coast Missile Defense System would be an important addition for our national defense. Camp Ravenna is located in Northeast Ohio, in close vicinity to the Akron and Youngstown transportation networks, making it easier to facilitate the flow of military and construction traffic this project would bring. Currently, there are two Missile Defense System locations in California and Alaska. Fort Drum in New York and the Fort Custer Training Center in Michigan are the other locations being considered on the East Coast. "It is estimated that the $3.6 billion project could help support 2,300 jobs in the region during construction and directly employ up to 850 people full-time once the system is operational," the letter stated. "This represents a significant investment in a region of our state that is continuing to recover economically."