Maryland to Receive Nearly $173 Million in Military Construction Spending Bill
Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Paul S. Sarbanes today announced that Congress will give final approval to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs $81 billion 2006 spending bill, which includes important victories for several of Maryland's military bases. The legislation contains provisions providing Maryland military installations with federal dollars totaling nearly $173 million to cover new construction costs.
"A stronger America begins at home. We need to do everything we can to support our troops - not just with words but with deeds. Every year, I fight to make sure our military has the tools they need to keep us safe," said Senator Mikulski. "Now, more than ever, we need to take their needs to heart. I will keep fighting to make sure there is funding in the federal checkbook for our military bases."
"We've worked hard to ensure that Maryland's military installations continue to fare well in the annual appropriations process, both enhancing these state-of-the-art facilities and in making quality of life improvements at these bases," said Senator Sarbanes. "These facilities are not only important to our overall national defense, but also our State's economy, resulting in significant spillover opportunities in our hi-tech defense related sectors."
The spending bill includes funding for the following Maryland bases not included in President Bush's budget:
MARYLAND ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: Dundalk Organizational Maintenance Shop ($4.91 million)
A facility of 13,095 square feet is currently required to permit maintenance at organizational level to be performed on a fleet of 270 vehicles at the Maryland Army National Guard Facility in Dundalk, a marked increase over the 2,365 square feet at the current facility. This funding will allow major construction upgrades to the Dundalk Organizational Maintenance Shop (OMS). Without these upgrades, units would require additional maintenance, which cannot be supported -negatively impacting both efficiency and mobilization readiness.
INDIAN HEAD NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER: Joint Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technical ($8.25 million)
Support Center will dramatically expand the ability of Indian Head personnel to reach out to warfighters on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe to help them identify and neutralize unexploded ordnance, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE: Library/Education Center ($1.18 million)
This funding will support the planning and design of an adequately sized and properly configured facility that combines both the library and educational center. This will improve the quality of services provided to the base population, which are currently inadequate to support its population. The new facility will enable the base to offer Professional Military Education, Airman Leadership School and voluntary education programs in proper classrooms.
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE: 70th Intelligence Wing Headquarters ($1.59 million)
These funds will support the planning and design of a headquarters facility for the Air Force's 70th Intelligence Wing (70 IW) at Fort Meade. The 70 IW commands more than 4,500 personnel around the world in support of the National Security Agency's worldwide mission. Wing personnel conduct intelligence, security and information. A new Headquarters and operations facility would consolidate the commanders and senior staff of the 70 IW, the 694 IG and six squadrons into one facility. The new facility provides 20,000 square feet of high security Special Compartmented Information Facility workspace and satisfies the command and control requirements for this worldwide wing. In addition, construction of this facility would again make available 60 critically needed dorm rooms for use by single airmen.
Additional Maryland projects include:
- $24.93 million for Phase I of the Wesley Brown Field House at the United States Naval Academy
- $5.8 million for the Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft Test Facility at Patuxent River Naval Air Station
- $40.7 million for Phase II of the Presidential Helicopter Programs Support Facility at Patuxent River Naval Air Station
- $10.35 million for an Academic Program Center/GSN at USUHS Graduate School of Nursing
- $34 million for the Joint Medical Logistics Center at Fort Detrick
- $21.2 million for the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) Sterilization Plant at Fort Detrick
- $12 million for Classified Material Conversion facility at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade
- $12 million for the FANX Generator Plant at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade
- $4 million for the South Campus Mail Facility at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade
In the next step of the appropriations process, the Conference report will move back to the House and Senate floors for final votes. Once passed by the House and Senate, the bill will go to the President for his signature.