{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=FF040F39-9EA7-48CD-9B4F-0BF8C0E4F77B", "McConnell Secures Priorities for Kentucky Military Installations, Blue Grass Army Depot in National Defense Bill", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KY", "Mitch McConnell", "M000355", "www.mcconnell.senate.gov", "mcconnell", "https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) secured several important priorities for Kentucky in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This critical defense policy bill includes provisions for Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD), Fort Campbell, Fort Knox, and the Kentucky Army National Guard. The legislation passed the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives and now goes to the President to be signed into law.\n\nBLUE GRASS ARMY DEPOT\n\nAt the request of Senator McConnell, the NDAA requires the Army to develop proposals to execute the \u201cmost promising\u201d opportunities identified in the BGAD feasibility study released in September 2023. He also secured a provision requiring the Department of Defense to onshore production of critical chemicals by 2028, addressing a supply-chain vulnerability in 15 chemicals essential for explosive materials and currently produced overseas in countries like China. The provision requires consideration of BGAD\u2019s suitability to meet this vital need.\n\n\u201cOur Nation faces growing threats from Russia, China, and Iran, whose shared interest in global chaos threatens our way of life. This moment demands American strength and real-dollar investments into establishing effective deterrence against our adversaries. This starts here at home with ramping up production of defense materials at installations like Blue Grass Army Depot. This year, the Depot safely destroyed the last of our country\u2019s chemical weapons, which Kentucky has been home to for decades. Even as these efforts approach their end, the Depot\u2019s facilities and workforce remain critical assets to the Army,\u201d said Senator Mitch McConnell. \u201cI\u2019m glad to see this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act advance the Depot\u2019s important role in defense production. This legislation lays the groundwork for Blue Grass Army Depot to take on new missions and deliver the resources our Armed Forces need to confront these threats.\u201d\n\n\u201cMadison County has much to celebrate this year. First and foremost, we can finally mark the end of chemical weapons sitting in our backyard at Blue Grass Army Depot. This achievement was a major milestone, and we couldn\u2019t have done it without the staunch support of Senator McConnell for many years. As we work to identify plans for the Depot and its workforce in the future, I\u2019m grateful to see this year\u2019s national defense bill push forward this local and national imperative at record speed. I\u2019m grateful for Senator McConnell\u2019s advocacy on this matter, and I look forward to partnering with him to continue to deliver for Kentuckians in the region,\u201d said Madison County Judge/Executive Reagan Taylor.\n\nThe bill also includes the following provisions that specifically benefit Kentucky and bolster the Commonwealth\u2019s central role in America\u2019s defense:\n\n$39 million for a Multipurpose Training Range at Fort Campbell.\n\n$16.4 million for a modern maintenance facility at Kentucky Army National Guard.\n\n$3.3 million to plan and design a state-of-the-art munitions supply facility at the Blue Grass Army Depot.\n\n$2.5 million to plan and design a new Air Traffic Control Tower at Fort Campbell.\n\n$2.0 million to complete construction of a Kentucky National Guard Headquarters Building in Frankfort\n\nStudy requirement to support the Army Human Resources Command\u2019s 2030 Transformation Plan at Ft. Knox.\n\nContinued support for the University of Louisville\u2019s cybersecurity workforce development partnership with the National Security Agency.\n\nVital investments in Kentucky\u2019s defense manufacturing and innovation industry.\n\nThe NDAA also authorizes the following provisions to support our Nation\u2019s service members and their families:\n\nSecures a well-deserved 5.2% pay raise for servicemembers, the highest pay raise in 22 years to offset inflation.\n\nProvides scholarship opportunities for recruits enrolled in community and junior colleges and increases scholarship opportunities for those pursuing military health careers.\n\nAuthorizes quality improvements for military enlisted barracks, including the replacement of barracks that do not meet basic standards.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=FF040F39-9EA7-48CD-9B4F-0BF8C0E4F77B"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0705499444156885, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}