First Posted: 3/2/2015
LIMA — Wanting to keep local the factory that makes M1 Abrams Tanks well on the radar screen of the politicians that control the national defense purse strings, Congressman Mike Turner brought an entourage to town for a tour.
“Our goal today is to look at the status of the projects that are here but also in part to celebrate the fact that in this year’s budget, President Barack Obama has provided funding that would keep this plant operating,” said Turner, a Republican from Dayton.
Turner toured the plant with Lt. Gen. Michael Williamson seeing firsthand the critical work done by local employees to make the Abrams tank, Stryker vehicle and other products.
Turner, who is chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, said anytime he can bring attention to the important work at the plant, he will.
“Our goal is to continue to raise the profile of this plant. The work that is done here is critical, the capabilities are critical and the workforce is critical,” Turner said. “It’s not just that we have equipment here but we have individuals who have expertise that cannot be replicated elsewhere.”
He said tanks are an important part of the national defense.
“The world is not going to be a safer place,” Turner said. “This tank is absolutely essential. Not only does it keep the men and women who are inside these tanks safe but it also absolutely ensures that we can take ground, hold ground and protect our nation.”
He also said the plant can’t experience a shutdown.
“This is not just a plant you can flip a switch and shut it down and flip the switch back on and start it back up again,” Turner said. “The expertise of the people here and the equipment needs to continue to operate in order to have the skill level and the capability level to produce what we need.”
The congressman said the President initially wanted to cut funding for the plant. Turner said he fought to help secure the $120 million for upgrades of the Abrams tanks, part of which are done at the Lima facility.
Lt. Gen. Williamson, the principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, was visiting for the first time from Washington D.C. He said he was impressed.
“The combat vehicles that are produced here are critical for our soldiers. They provide us the capability to accomplish a mission but, more importantly, to be able to come home safely,” Williamson said.
