U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Member: Finance, Agriculture, Energy, Ethics and Aging Committees 2300 15^th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
For Immediate Release Thursday, July 17, 2008		CONTACT:Michael Amodeo – 303-249-5286 Matt Lee-Ashley – 202-228-5905
Sen. Salazar Announces Nearly $700M in Funding for Colorado Military Installations and Veterans' Priorities WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2009 (FY 09 MilCon-VA). At the request of United States Senator Ken Salazar, the bill includes nearly $700 million for key military construction projects and veterans’ priorities across the state. “Colorado’s military installations make us the center of gravity for our nation’s defense and homeland security,” said Senator Salazar. “The funding in this bill will allow us to move ahead on a number of projects that are vital to our military readiness and to the quality of life of our service members and their families. I am pleased to have helped secure $631 million for Fort Carson to prepare for the return of the 4th Infantry Division and the additional brigades we will be hosting. It also includes funds I requested for the Air Force to buy a parcel of land near NORTHCOM’s headquarters at Peterson AFB, to improve the stand-off between the building and the base’s fenceline. And for Colorado’s National Guard, which plays so many roles in our nation’s defense and in disaster response here at home, I am proud to have helped secure money to build new armories in Grand Junction and Denver.” On funding for the Pueblo Chemical Depot, Senator Salazar said, “I am also pleased by the Committee’s acceptance of my request for continued funding of weapons destruction activities at the Pueblo Chemical Depot. And rest assured that as the effort proceeds, I will continue to push for an expeditious conclusion to weapons destruction and site restoration at the Depot. The citizens of Pueblo, who have waited far too long for an end to this saga, deserve no less.” On the need to build a national veterans cemetery for the Pikes Peak region, Senator Salazar added: “The Committee included language I drafted directing the VA to examine sites south of Colorado Springs as a possible home to a new national veterans cemetery. I am pleased that the bill will help push the VA to recognize that we need two national veterans cemeteries along the Front Range: Fort Logan to serve the Denver area and the northern part of the state, and a Pikes Peak national veterans’ cemetery that serves the veterans and military retirees in southern Colorado.” Below are highlights of specific projects included in the Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations Bill that are critical to Colorado: Supporting Colorado’s Military Installations $4,950,000 for 23-Acre Land Acquisition (Peterson AFB) To help curb encroachment pressures near Peterson AFB and to improve the force protection standoff near NORAD/NORTHCOM’s headquarters, Senator Salazar secured funds to complete a 23-acre land acquisition near the installation’s northern boundary. In addition to creating a larger buffer around the building, the acquisition will allow for the realignment of the existing North Gate to relieve current congestion and provide adequate stacking distance for vehicles entering the base. $4,200,000 for Alert Crew Headquarters (Buckley AFB) Senator Salazar secured funds for an alert crew quarters facility for aircrews of the 140th Fighter Wing and the 120th Fighter Squadron that are supporting air combat missions under Operation Noble Eagle. Since 2002, the alert maintenance and pilot personnel have been housed in doublewide trailers near the primary parking area on base for the F-16s, in order to allow for rapid worldwide deployment at any moment. The trailers, however, are temporary and substandard. The new, permanent, alert crew quarters facility will provide a secure area for fighter aircraft mission control and planning, aircrew billets for 12 people, controlled access fenced perimeter and gates, back-up emergency power for the complex, and utilities infrastructure to meet requirements. $65,060,000 for Ammunition Demilitarization Facility PH X (Pueblo Chem Depot) Senator Salazar succeeded in securing over $65 million for continued clean-up at the Pueblo Depot. This significant funding increase will be used for the construction of destruction facilities, with the goal of completing destruction by 2017. Other Military Construction Highlights Include: $103,000,000 for construction of privatized family housing at Fort Carson $18,000,000 to Upgrade Academic Facility, Phase V, at the United States Air Force Academy $7,200,000 for an Air Force Reserve Training Facility at Buckley (BRAC) $154,000,000 for Barracks and Dining Facilities at Fort Carson $45,000,000 for a Battalion Complex at Fort Carson $15,000,000 for Unit Maintenance Facilities at Fort Carson $22,000,000 for a Physical Fitness Facility at Fort Carson $46,000,000 for Brigade/Battalion Headquarters at Fort Carson $93,000,000 for Company Operations Facilities at Fort Carson $84,000,000 for Vehicle Maintenance Shops at Fort Carson $69,000,000 for Infrastructure for a Brigade Combat Team at Fort Carson $3,000,000 for a Satellite Pharmacy at Buckley $9,000,000 each for armories in Denver and Grand Junction Supporting Colorado’s Military Veterans National Veterans Cemetery in Southern Colorado Senator Salazar urged the Appropriations Committee to include language directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to examine the possibility of purchasing land south of Colorado Springs for a national veterans’ cemetery for Southern Colorado. This region, host to six military installations, is also home to 32,000 active duty personnel, 44,000 family members, and more than 125,000 veterans. The bill now awaits consideration by the full Senate. ###