The 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, would receive $38.5 million in fiscal year 2027 funding under the newest military appropriations bill, according to U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA), who supports authorizing military construction projects at Sioux Gateway Airport and at the 185th Air Refueling Wing.
The U.S. House of Representatives on May 15 advanced the bipartisan Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2027, H.R. 8469, including the proposed funding sought by Rep. Feenstra. The Senate will next consider the bill.
“Today, we are following through on commitments made over 20 years ago by passing one of the largest military construction investments approved this year for the 185th Air Refueling Wing,” Rep. Feenstra said on Friday. “When I came to Congress five years ago, I promised Iowans that I would be a strong voice for them in Washington. That meant working with my colleagues to deliver on this essential, decades-long commitment.
“This project will strengthen military readiness and modernize critical infrastructure that has been neglected for far too long,” added the congressman. “I look forward to the swift passage of this funding in the U.S. Senate so we can deliver this vital investment for northwest Iowa.”
The 185th Air Refueling Wing executes the KC-135 refueling mission, a critical component of U.S. national security and global defense operations. The KC-135 plays an essential role in supporting fighter aircraft and protecting both American forces and allied partners, according to information provided by Rep. Feenstra’s office.
For more than two decades, the 185th has carried out its mission without adequate runway infrastructure to support the KC-135’s maximum takeoff weight, resulting in repeated runway degradation, costly repairs, and ongoing operational waivers.
Despite the challenges, the 185th has consistently fulfilled its mission with professionalism and resilience, the information says.
In December 2025, Rep. Feenstra led the Iowa congressional delegation in urging leaders of both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate Armed Services Committees to authorize military construction projects at Sioux Gateway Airport and the 185th Air Refueling Wing in the final conference agreement for the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The request was ultimately included in the final legislation and enacted into law.
In April, Rep. Feenstra also secured inclusion of these funds in the U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s passage of H.R. 8469, his staff said.