SENATOR COLLINS SECURES MORE THAN $50 MILLION FOR MAINE IN SENATE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS BILL

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, today announced that the Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations spending bill which includes her request for nearly $50 million in military construction funding for Maine projects.  This legislation must now be conferenced with similar legislation passed in the House.

"This legislation will provide essential funding for our military, our veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs.  It includes advanced appropriations for the VA, which I have long supported, and is welcome news to our nation's veterans," said Senator Collins.  "In addition, it contains a number of provisions that will help maintain and improve the military infrastructure throughout the state of Maine-boosting our economy by creating jobs and improving our state's defense infrastructure."

Maine projects included in the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill are:

• $28 million for a new Aircraft Hangar at the Bangor Air National Guard base.
• $7.1 million for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery to be used for security improvements at Gate #2.
• $2 million for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery to be used for the planning and design funding for the Consolidation of Structural Shops.
• $12.9 million for the Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC) at Brunswick Naval Air Station.

The legislation also includes $53.2 billion in Department of Veterans Affairs discretionary funding, including $50 million for a new Rural Clinic Initiative for additional to provide for additional Community Based Outreach Clinic's in rural and highly rural areas, such as Maine.

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