U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra announced on Apr. 21 that the House Appropriations Committee has approved $38.5 million in Fiscal Year 2027 funding for the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa.
The funding is intended to address longstanding infrastructure needs at the facility, which plays a key role in U.S. national defense by executing the KC-135 refueling mission supporting American and allied forces overseas.
“Since elected to Congress, I have made securing critical funding for the 185th Air Refueling Wing a top priority and worked with my colleagues to honor a twenty-year-old commitment to our Air National Guard,” Feenstra said. “The 185th is a cornerstone of our community and a vital asset to our national defense. I am proud to help deliver this essential investment, which will strengthen military readiness and modernize key infrastructure.” He added that it represents one of the largest federal investments in military construction this year and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting both the unit and Sioux Gateway Airport.
For over two decades, the wing has operated without adequate runway infrastructure capable of supporting its aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight, resulting in repeated runway degradation, costly repairs, and operational waivers. Despite these challenges, Feenstra said that “the 185th has consistently met its mission requirements with professionalism and resilience.” Last December, he led efforts among Iowa’s congressional delegation urging authorization of related military construction projects at Sioux Gateway Airport through inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
Randy Feenstra is currently serving in Congress representing Iowa’s 4th district after replacing Steve King in 2021 according to official records. He previously served as an Iowa state senator from 2009 until his election to Congress as reported by Ballotpedia. Born in Hull, Iowa in 1969 where he still resides according to biographical information, Feenstra graduated from Dordt University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 as noted by Dordt University alumni records.
Looking ahead, Feenstra said he remains committed “to supporting the 185th Air Refueling Wing and Sioux Gateway Airport and ensuring Northwest Iowa has the infrastructure needed to sustain its critical mission for our country.”
