The recently enacted federal law authorizing defense spending for fiscal year (FY) 2019 stands to benefit military personnel and their families in Kansas, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) said.
“It is has always been my priority in Congress to make certain that we are not only supporting our service members, but that we are also supporting their children and families,” said the senator, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2019, H.R. 5515, includes language regarding the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) 2011 Public Schools on Military Installations Priority List. The language authorizes DOD to continue replacing schools as the department completes a mandated follow-up audit, according to a statement released by Sen. Moran’s staff.
“I am pleased to announce authorization has been secured for USD 475 to plan for and apply for grants to construct a new elementary school at Fort Riley,” Sen. Moran said, referring to a new elementary school at the base that would prevent overcrowding “and provide our service members’ children access to modern and high-quality educational resources and facilities.”
The lawmaker noted that he has worked closely with DOD on determining what resources the department should invest in to expand and support Fort Riley’s infrastructure, including new middle and elementary schools and the state-of-the-art Irwin Army Hospital.
“I remain committed to furthering these existing, proven partnerships so Fort Riley can remain the best place to live, train, deploy from, come home to and retire,” he said.
Among numerous provisions under the new law, the number of infrastructure projects eligible to apply for a DOD Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) grant will be increased by five. The OEA currently awaits approved funding guidance before soliciting grant applications, according to the senator’s statement.
If approved, the OEA will make an 80 percent matching grant available for construction of the new Fort Riley grade school, estimated to cost $25 million, according to Moran’s staff.