WASHINGTON - The Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna and surrounding communities will benefit from a portion of the $875 billion National Defense Authorization Act passed by the U.S. Senate.

According to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s Office, the legislation includes $2.5 million for the planning and design of a new fire station at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

Characterizing the new fire station as critical to the mission, YARS firefighters not only are responsible for fire safety on the base, but they also respond to emergencies in neighboring communities, as well as participate in training with local fire departments.

The annual defense package also includes investments in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Camp Perry Joint Training Center, the National Guard Readiness Center at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, and Lima’s Joint Systems Manufacturing Center.

Although Brown’s Republican counterpart Senator JD Vance also inserted projects into the bill, his office issued a statement explaining that he voted against the final version because of commitments to provide military aid to Ukraine.

“I’ve worked in good faith throughout this process to secure as many wins for Ohio as possible, and I’m proud that many of those priorities have been included in the final version of the NDAA,” said Senator Vance.

“However, I cannot in good conscience support the broader package, which commits the United States to years of additional military aid for the war in Ukraine. It’s disappointing to me that these significant priorities that would benefit Ohioans have been bogged down with such deeply problematic foreign policy proposals," he said.