Dusty Johnson: “In July the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2007 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs…”

“In July the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2007 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. As a member of the committee, I supported this measure, and it is now being considered by the full Senate. The bill provides a total of $94.3 billion in spending, including funding to make a number of critical upgrades to our military infrastructure. As a member of the appropriations subcommittee that has oversight on military construction, I was able to use my position to ensure that $23.4 million was included for three military construction projects in South Dakota. Investing in our military infrastructure ensures that our military personnel have the tools they need to perform their mission. This bill provides $7.5 million to construct a new base civil engineer maintenance complex for the South Dakota Air National Guard at Joe Foss Field. This funding is necessary because the current complex is undersized and inadequate. The new facility will help the 114th Fighter Wing maintain a combat-ready force of civil engineers.”