President vetoes act that would have sent work to JSMC

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LIMA — President Barack Obama’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act may have local repercussions.

That’s why U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, is vowing to take action to override the veto.

“I’m extremely disappointed that the President has vetoed legislation that will ensure our men and women in uniform have the capabilities they need to protect the U.S. at this time of mounting global threats,” Portman said in a statement.

The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima was slated to get some work from the vetoed bill, as Portman added a provision with $371 million for research, development and procurement of 81 JSMC-made Stryker vehicles.

“My provision to strengthen the Stryker Brigade would have not only sent a strong message to our allies in Europe, but also provided our forward deployed soldiers a critically important capability. I plan to work my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to override this veto,” Portman said in the statement.

THE LOCAL IMPACT

Most of the work was scheduled for the JSMC, and Lima Mayor David Berger said in June that it could bring up to 60 jobs to the plant.

The amendment was proposed after the Army requested that the Stryker be updated to “increase its lethality,” with a 30-millimeter gun system, Berger said in June. Berger could not be reached for comment on Monday.

In June, General Dynamics Land Systems, which operates the government-owned JSMC, said it expected to be awarded a contract later this year to start the program, according to a statement from Tim Reese, GDLS spokesman for Stryker Programs.

“General Dynamics wants to thank Sen. Portman for his leadership and support on this important issue that will support a strong national defense for the U.S. and its allies, while protecting the defense industrial base and work force at the JSMC in Lima,” according to a June statement from the company.

On Monday GDLS said only that its statement stands.

Portman’s amendment was the first adopted to the NDAA and was passed with bipartisan support, according to a previous release form his office.

After the act was vetoed, the Army proposed a program and funding, to meet its needs, that calls for $411 million in 2016, according to Portman’s release.

WHY IT WAS VETOED

Obama vetoed the bill Thursday and discussed the reasons behind his decision. He praised the bill for funding the military, reforming the military retirement system, and more, according to the White House’s website.

“Unfortunately, it falls woefully short in three areas,” according to Obama’s statement on the act. “Number one, it keeps in place the sequester that is inadequate for us to properly fund our military in a stable, sustained way and allows all of our armed forces to plan properly. …

“Number two, unfortunately it prevents a wide range of reforms that are necessary for us to get our military modernized and able to deal with the many threats that are presenting themselves in the 21st century,” he added.

“And the third thing is that this legislation specifically impeded our ability to close Guantanamo in a way that I have repeatedly argued is counterproductive to our efforts to defeat terrorism around the world,” Obama continued.

He sent the bill back to Congress to change the budget and make military spending sustainable.

Submitted Photo The Stryker.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/10/web1_Stryker-submitted.jpgSubmitted Photo The Stryker.

By Danae King

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Reach Danae King at 567-242-0511 or on Twitter @DanaeKing.

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