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WASHINGTON— The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a $72.7 billion Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2009 containing $6.8 million for McConnell Air Force Base. Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) was successful in securing this funding to complete the second phase of a project to make McConnell AFB more efficient. As part of the $72.7 billion, the Department of Veterans Affairs will be funded $47.7 billion to provide facilities to train and house military personnel at home and abroad, funding for medical care, benefits, and other important services to veterans. This is a $4.6 billion increase above FY2008 funding, more than a 10% increase. The $6.8 million in funding will help complete phase two of the Maintenance Group (MXG) Consolidation and Forward Logistics Center that will streamline many different facilities into one maintenance facility. This will improve military operations at McConnell AFB and save taxpayer dollars by reducing operations and maintenance spending.
“The men and women working at McConnell Air Force Base will benefit from the efficiencies that the new consolidated maintenance facility will bring to their operations,” said Tiahrt. “This project is an important second step in reshaping McConnell AFB flightline support activities to increase productivity, achieve critical gains in operational efficiency for the aircraft maintenance mission, and accomplish a total force integration of active and reserve duty squadrons. The $6.8 million in federal funds will help complete the second phase of this important project. “I am also pleased this bill supports our nation’s veterans by giving States grants to construct and renovate VA extended care facilities. Funding for Priority 8 veterans was also boosted, which allows more veterans to access services provided through the VA. The brave men and women who serve our country should receive the utmost medical care. They deserve no less. “I look forward to Senate passage of this bill so we can quickly get it to the President for his signature.” The McConnell project will relocate management and Aircraft Maintenance Units (AMU) to the flightline area, reduce travel time between the aircraft and AMUs, and increase command and control. The total force concept will increase maintenance knowledge transfer between active and reserve personnel providing for more on-the-job training. Tiahrt secured authorization for the McConnell AFB project in the National Defense Authorization Act of FY09 that passed the House May 22, 2008. Tiahrt was successful in securing $6.3 million for phase one of the military consolidation project in the FY2008 omnibus bill signed by President Bush last winter. The House voted today to pass this bi-partisan appropriations bill by a vote of 409-4. Editors’ Note: Priority 8 Veterans are those veterans whose injuries are not service related and who have an income of 80% of the median in their community. |
