Appropriations Committee Passes FY09 Military Construction Budget
Washington, D.C. —U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved federal funding for several Pennsylvania defense projects as contained in Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bill for military construction.
The Senate Appropriations Committee completed mark up on Thursday. It is anticipated that when the Committee reports its legislation to the full Senate, the Department of Defense budget will appropriate $175.7 million for military construction throughout the state.
“I am pleased that my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have recognized the valuable contribution these projects will make to our nation’s defense,” said Senator Specter. “The construction and renovation of facilities that support our active and reserve military forces will strengthen our economy and honor the brave men and women who serve our country.”
“The projects are vital to the Pennsylvania’s economic development and the overall security of the United States,” said Senator Casey. “I am pleased the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved this important funding to improve Pennsylvania’s military projects and strengthen our nation’s defense.”
The bill will now await action on the Senate floor and must be approved by the House of Representatives and the President of the United States before funding is final.
Funding has been approved for the following Pennsylvania projects:
Central
· $22.4 million for Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg.
o $14.9 million has been appropriated for construction of a new Army Reserve Center at Letterkenny Army Depot. Current Reserve facilities are out of date and contain insufficient storage areas for military equipment. The new Center will provide a 300 member training facility with administrative areas, classrooms, assembly hall, arms vault, kitchen, equipment storage areas, physical training rooms, and maintenance facilities. An area maintenance facility will house higher level maintenance operations for the entire region.
o The Committee approved an additional $7.5 million for upgrades to Letterkenny’s Munitions Igloos. Letterkenny’s Munitions Center (LEMC) is a major receiving, storage, maintenance and shipping site for both tactical missiles and conventional munitions. This funding will allow military construction funds to enhance the infrastructure and improve Letterkenny’s ability to respond to emerging challenges.
· $13.4 million for the Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle to construct a Museum Support Facility at the Carlisle Barracks. When completed, the Museum Support Facility will provide conservation support for the entire Army.
· $1.2 million for the York Army National Guard Facility in York for the design of a 37,700 square foot environmentally and energy efficient facility to support 108 soldiers, including a Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
· $18.5 million for the construction of an Armed Forces Reserve Center in Lewisburg.
Northeastern
· $17.45 million for the Tobyhanna Army Depot in Monroe County.
o $15 million has been appropriated to expand and modernize Tobyhanna Army Depot’s capacity to repair and refinish large tactical communications, intelligence, surveillance and radar weapons systems maintained by Tobyhanna Army Depot for the U.S. military.
o The Committee appropriated an additional $2.45 million for the development of a radar maintenance facility.
· $18.5 million to construct an Armed Forces Reserve Center in Williamsport.
Southeastern
· $42.57 million for the Navy Yard in Philadelphia.
o $22 million is appropriated to construct a state of the art facility to test full scale advanced Navy electric drive systems.
o The remaining $20.57 million is dedicated to renovation projects.
· $30 million for Willow Grove for the construction of an Armed Forces Reserve Center in Montgomery County.
Southwestern
· $4.92 million for Navy Marine Corps Reserve Center (NMCRC) in Pittsburgh for the relocation of the NMCRC from Moundsville to Pittsburgh.
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The Senate Appropriations Committee completed mark up on Thursday. It is anticipated that when the Committee reports its legislation to the full Senate, the Department of Defense budget will appropriate $175.7 million for military construction throughout the state.
“I am pleased that my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have recognized the valuable contribution these projects will make to our nation’s defense,” said Senator Specter. “The construction and renovation of facilities that support our active and reserve military forces will strengthen our economy and honor the brave men and women who serve our country.”
“The projects are vital to the Pennsylvania’s economic development and the overall security of the United States,” said Senator Casey. “I am pleased the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved this important funding to improve Pennsylvania’s military projects and strengthen our nation’s defense.”
The bill will now await action on the Senate floor and must be approved by the House of Representatives and the President of the United States before funding is final.
Funding has been approved for the following Pennsylvania projects:
Central
· $22.4 million for Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg.
o $14.9 million has been appropriated for construction of a new Army Reserve Center at Letterkenny Army Depot. Current Reserve facilities are out of date and contain insufficient storage areas for military equipment. The new Center will provide a 300 member training facility with administrative areas, classrooms, assembly hall, arms vault, kitchen, equipment storage areas, physical training rooms, and maintenance facilities. An area maintenance facility will house higher level maintenance operations for the entire region.
o The Committee approved an additional $7.5 million for upgrades to Letterkenny’s Munitions Igloos. Letterkenny’s Munitions Center (LEMC) is a major receiving, storage, maintenance and shipping site for both tactical missiles and conventional munitions. This funding will allow military construction funds to enhance the infrastructure and improve Letterkenny’s ability to respond to emerging challenges.
· $13.4 million for the Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle to construct a Museum Support Facility at the Carlisle Barracks. When completed, the Museum Support Facility will provide conservation support for the entire Army.
· $1.2 million for the York Army National Guard Facility in York for the design of a 37,700 square foot environmentally and energy efficient facility to support 108 soldiers, including a Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
· $18.5 million for the construction of an Armed Forces Reserve Center in Lewisburg.
Northeastern
· $17.45 million for the Tobyhanna Army Depot in Monroe County.
o $15 million has been appropriated to expand and modernize Tobyhanna Army Depot’s capacity to repair and refinish large tactical communications, intelligence, surveillance and radar weapons systems maintained by Tobyhanna Army Depot for the U.S. military.
o The Committee appropriated an additional $2.45 million for the development of a radar maintenance facility.
· $18.5 million to construct an Armed Forces Reserve Center in Williamsport.
Southeastern
· $42.57 million for the Navy Yard in Philadelphia.
o $22 million is appropriated to construct a state of the art facility to test full scale advanced Navy electric drive systems.
o The remaining $20.57 million is dedicated to renovation projects.
· $30 million for Willow Grove for the construction of an Armed Forces Reserve Center in Montgomery County.
Southwestern
· $4.92 million for Navy Marine Corps Reserve Center (NMCRC) in Pittsburgh for the relocation of the NMCRC from Moundsville to Pittsburgh.
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