DEFENDING AMERICA AND PROTECTING THE HOMELAND
As a member of the Defense Subcommittee of House Appropriations, Congresswoman Kaptur is guided by two major themes: guaranteeing national security and restoring energy independence. Congress must make sure our servicemen and servicewomen are the best trained and best equipped soldiers in the world. We must provide the most modern defense systems and equipment for our forces, including Guard and Reserve units.It is also critical that our government secure the defense industrial base and recapture key defense technologies from foreign outsourcing.
RESTORING AMERICA’S ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
Northern Ohio is the “#1 Green Energy Community” in the U.S. and our technology and experience in alternative energy allow us the opportunity to showcase projects that restore our nation’s energy independence.We hope to lead our nation’s efforts to secure energy independence at all U.S. military bases and installations. That leadership is on display at the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo. Its 783-kilowatt solar electric generation plant last year provided an annual utility savings of $150,000 and used 99.7% local content—which means jobs in the community.
Congresswoman Kaptur has championed creation of a federal policy on strategic metals. A $90 million beryllium plant in Elmore, Ohio is a prime example of public-private partnership. The Department of Defense and Materion Corporation (formerly Brush Wellman) collaborated on the factory with federal funding under Title III of the Defense Production Act.
BUY AMERICA LEGISLATION
Congresswoman Kaptur has always supported strong Buy America provisions in defense legislation in order to support the defense industrial base, which is critical to our nation’s national security.Buy America provisions help small companies, such as tool and die manufacturers, foundry operators and machinists in Northern Ohio, compete with larger defense contractors on Pentagon contracts.