Congressman Cleaver Advances Redevelopment of Bannister Federal Complex

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) advocated for the inclusion of language in the end-of-year Continuing Resolution – H.R. 2028 - and is pleased to announce that the language was included in the final bill. H.R. 2028 was passed by the U.S. House earlier this month by a vote of 326-96. This added language will help further the redevelopment of the old Bannister Complex.

H.R. 2028 provides funding for the U.S. Government until April 28, 2017. Special language was needed to provide full funding for the transfer of ownership of the Bannister Complex from the National Nuclear Security Administration to private ownership.

“Our hands were tied. We could not make a move towards new use and new ownership at the Bannister Complex without the full funding. Thankfully, we can now get to work and begin the clean-up and redevelopment of this blighted area,” said Congressman Cleaver.

The National Nuclear Security Administration, which currently owns the property, needed $200 million for demolition and remediation costs to meet legal obligations to transfer the Bannister complex to private ownership in 2017. The transfer of the Bannister Complex is years in the making. A delay could derail the sale and cost the federal government an additional $40 million or more to maintain the property. With private ownership, the land can be remediated for industrial use.

The 300-acre Bannister Plant was originally built in 1942 to manufacture airplane engines, and began producing mechanical weapon components for our nuclear weapon stockpile in 1949. The facility has soil and groundwater contamination from chemicals used in manufacturing and solid waste disposal. The cleanup and redevelopment of the Bannister property is crucial for the stabilization and recovery of South Kansas City.

For more information, please contact Heather Frierson at 816-842-4545 or Heather.Frierson@mail.house.gov.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.