SENATE PANEL APPROVES MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS SPENDING BILL THAT INCLUDES SENATORS SNOWE, COLLINS REQUEST FOR FUNDS FOR PNSY DRYDOCK
WASHINGTON, DC-- The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the fiscal year 2007 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill that, at the request of Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, includes $9.6 million for the construction of a new Drydock Waterfront Support Facility at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. In addition, the bill includes a total of $25.5 billion for veterans’ medical services, some of which will benefit the Togus VA medical facility. Earlier this year, Senators Snowe and Collins urged appropriators to support increased funding for critical veterans’ programs.
In a joint statement, Senators Snowe and Collins said, “It is good news that our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee recognize how critical it is to support the medical facilities that serve our nation’s veterans. This bill provides funding that will enable Togus, as well as VA medical facilities throughout the nation, to meet the needs of their patients.
“We are also very pleased that this bill includes our request for $9.6 million for the construction of a new Drydock Waterfront Facility at PNSY, which will replace the current submarine support facility that is over 60 years old and in need of replacement.”
Highlights of the spending bill are as follows:
· $70.7 billion for veterans’ projects and 10.2 billion for military construction projects in fiscal year 2007.
· $25.5 billion for veterans’ medical services throughout the nation.
· $412 million total for research and development of prosthetic technologies.
· $1.456 billion for the creation of a new information technology office, to enhance information security for all veterans.
· $85 million for grants to State extended care facilities.
· The legislation rejected the Administration’s proposal to increase fees and co-payments for veterans’ medical services.
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