Underwood Secures $10.2 Million for Illinois National Guard in FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) released the following statement announcing that she has successfully secured $10.2 million to improve Illinois National Guard facilities in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The FY2022 NDAA was approved with bipartisan support by the House Armed Services Committee and now advances to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.

The funding secured by Underwood will upgrade facilities used by the 183d Wing of the Illinois Air National Guard at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, greatly improving efficiency and comfort for Illinois servicemembers. Additional details on the project are available below.

"Delivering federal resources to keep Illinois communities safe, support families, and boost our economy is one of my top priorities in Congress. The brave women and men in the Illinois National Guard provide invaluable security and support during both local and national emergencies, and I'm so pleased to be able to bring this funding home for them," said Underwood.

This project was selected for "Community Project Funding," a new initiative for Fiscal Year 2022 that allows Members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent. This new initiative is coupled with stringent eligibility, ethics, and transparency requirements. All of the projects selected increase safety, economic development, health, and livability and convenience of communities in Illinois.

The FY2022 NDAA is currently expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives in September 2021.

Project Sponsor: Illinois Air National Guard

Location: 183d Wing, Civil Engineering Facility, Springfield, Illinois

Amount Requested: $10.2 million

This funding will be used to construct a Base Civil Engineer Complex at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield. The complex, which has been fully designed, consolidates seven "poorly-configured and deteriorating facilities" into one facility "to support combat engineer training and the sustainment, maintenance, modernization, and operations of the installation and its two primary Centralized Repair Facility and Air Operations Group missions."