Graves Secures Funding to Save 500+ Jobs at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in House Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) celebrated the inclusion of nearly $225 million for small caliber ammunition funding in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) defense omnibus appropriations package passed by the House of Representatives. The funding will help preserve jobs at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, which employs roughly 1,700 workers in eastern Jackson County in Missouri’s 6^th Congressional District.

“This is a massive win for the skilled union craftsmen at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant and the American people,” Rep. Sam Graves said. “By rejecting the massive cuts proposed by the Biden Administration, we’re saving hundreds of jobs in North Missouri and ensuring our military can ramp up ammunition funding to respond to crises. That’s incredibly important given the state of the world today.”

Winchester Ammunition, a subsidiary of Olin Corporation operating the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant under contract from the United States Army, hailed Congressman Graves’s successful effort to secure funding for the plant.

“We are grateful for the relentless support of Congressman Graves, which was a key factor in the successful outcome of this appropriations bill,” remarked Scott Sutton, Chairman, President, and CEO of Olin Corporation.

Brett Flaugher, President of Winchester Ammunition, also hailed the efforts of Congressman Graves, noting, “Our 1,700 dedicated Winchester employees at Lake City remain committed to serving the U.S. Warfighter with ready and reliable ammunition. We applaud Congressman Graves for ensuring the security of these skilled jobs in our community.”

Last year, the Biden Administrations proposed cutting small caliber Army ammunition funding by 30 percent. Such a drastic cut would have led to massive layoffs at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant located in Independence, Missouri—leaving 500-700 skilled union craftsmen at the plant out of work.

In December, Congressman Graves successfully pushed to increase funding levels in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In February, he led a coalition of Missouri Republicans in urging House and Senate defense appropriators to fully fund the levels authorized by the FY22 NDAA.