U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) this week cited the monetary benefits for military facilities located in their home states that are contained in a newly released conference report for a comprehensive military authorization bill being reconciled in Congress.
The conference report was released on Dec. 9 for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, S. 1790, which would authorize defense spending and set the policy and priorities for the nation’s military.
Appropriations included in the report, which precedes a final vote in each chamber of Congress, is $375 million to repair Offutt Air Force Base and replace damaged RC-135 mission equipment, and $43.5 million to rebuild the Nebraska National Guard’s Camp Ashland training facility in Sen. Fischer’s home state.
“Nebraska’s military installations were severely damaged from this year’s extreme weather,” said Sen. Fischer, a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. “The nearly $420 million for Offutt Air Force Base and Camp Ashland I worked to include in the NDAA conference report is absolutely critical for our military and our state.”
The senator said the financial funding “relief will help cover much-needed repairs and speed up recovery, allowing our men and women in uniform to continue fulfilling their vital missions.”
Rep. McCarthy said the NDAA conference report also would authorize $1.152 billion toward rebuilding the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake in his home state that was damaged by major earthquakes in July.
“I am proud to announce that we have successfully secured the Navy’s full request for earthquake recovery efforts needed at China Lake this year,” said Rep. McCarthy. “China Lake is the top military installation that provides unique vital capabilities to our national defense, including weapons development and research.”
An additional $64.5 million also would be authorized for runway and taxi extensions at the base, the congressman said, adding that the work “will allow our dedicated men and women to meet high-performance operations and more effectively test and develop the weapons and systems necessary to keep our country safe for years to come.”
Rep. McCarthy also said that the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill this week. “I look forward to supporting it so that President Trump can sign it into law,” he said.