$800 million approved for Fort Bliss growth

$800 million approved for Fort Bliss growth




FROM A NEWS RELEASE SENT TO THE KDBC 4 NEWSROOM:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Early this morning, the U.S. House Armed Services Committee passed the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2647), which authorizes $779.4 million to support Fort Bliss growth. Congressman Silvestre Reyes, a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, worked to secure funding for El Paso as the bill moved through the Committee and voted in favor of the bill. The bill is scheduled for debate by the full House of Representatives next week.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sets policies and funding levels for U.S. national defense programs for the upcoming year. The legislation authorizes $550.4 billion for the Department of Defense (DoD) and for national security programs under the Department of Energy (DoE).

"This year's Defense Authorization Bill includes substantial investments for Fort Bliss that will further the installation's status as one of America's finest national defense assets," Congressman Reyes said. "Most importantly, this legislation includes funding that will allow Fort Bliss to break ground for the first phase of the new state-of-art William Beaumont Hospital that will serve thousands of troops, veterans, and dependents in the El Paso community."

"The Armed Services Committee underscored its commitment to the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families with the passage of this critical legislation," Reyes added.

"Under this bill, our troops will receive a 3.9 percent pay raise and it also enhances mental health screening and medical care to more effectively detect and treat cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)."

$176 MILLION FOR A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART WILLIAM BEAUMONT - PHASE I

The legislation provides $176 million for the first phase of the new William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC). The National Defense Authorization Act includes language authorizing $966 million for the construction of a new WBAMC complex. The inclusion of the full authorization for this facility in the NDAA sends a strong message of support to the Army and the Department of Defense for the new medical facility at Fort Bliss.

$32 MILLION FOR NEW FORT BLISS HELICOPTERS FOR COUNTERNARCOTICS PILOT TRAINING

The bill also includes $32 million to procure four helicopters for use in pilot training for counternarcotics operations at Fort Bliss. The aircraft replace helicopters which were deployed to support the US mission in Pakistan.

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US Mission in Pakistan?