WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today reported that an omnibus spending bill that passed 67-32 today in the Senate includes $215 million to support New Mexico's military installations and National Guard facilities. The measure also includes additional funding though the Department of Defense for a 1.6 percent pay raise for U.S. Military personnel and is now on its way to the president for signature.
The measure contains funding for important projects requested by Sens. Bingaman and Udall, including $41 million for a new hangar aircraft maintenance unit and $15 million for the construction of a new 96-room airmen dormitory at Cannon Air Force Base, where recent growth has led to a shortage of available, affordable housing either on base or in the surrounding community.
"Our military installations and the National Guard receive strong support from this bill," Bingaman said. "I'm glad Congress was able to finalize this measure and get to the president's desk before the holidays."
"New Mexico plays a key role in our national defense. With this funding, we help ensure that our military installations have the resources they need to carry out their critical missions," Udall said. "In addition, we have a duty to provide a comfortable and secure home for our military men and women and their families while they serve their country. The funding in this bill is an important step forward in meeting that responsibility."
The omnibus spending bill contained the following projects for New Mexico:
NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE:
$5.2 Million - Improvements to Army Guard Readiness Center in Santa Fe: Funding would be used to renovate and expand the existing readiness center to provide a larger, modernized facility for training of unit personnel and maintenance and readiness of unit equipment.
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE:
$ 41.2 Million - New SOF Hangar Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Cannon Air Force Base: Funding would be used to construct a new facility to maintain aircraft in support of increased mission requirements.
$15 Million - New Dormitory for Cannon Air Force Base: Funding will be used to construct a three-story, four-plex style dormitory with 96 rooms and a common area to support airmen and improve their quality of life.
$17.3 Million - UAS Squadron Ops Facility at Cannon Air Force Base: Funding will be used to construct a facility for Unmanned Aircraft System Squadron Operations.
$28 Million - New Apron and Taxiway at Cannon Air Force Base: Funding would be used to pave a parking apron that provides parking space, tie-down points, service points, and line maintenance areas for aircraft. This parking area is necessary to create room for the MC-130J aircraft that become a part of Cannon's force as the 27th SOW continues to expand its presence on the base.
$26 Million - Improvements to Parking Apron at Cannon Air Force Base: Funding would be used to pave a parking apron for large aircraft up to the C-130 size.
$39.7 Million - Operations and Training Complex at Cannon Air Force Base: Funding would be used to construct a training and operations complex for the Special Operations Forces whose mission on the base will increase dramatically over the next few years.
$9.6 Million - Improvements to Simulator Facility at Cannon Air Force Base: Funding would be used for additions and alterations to the new Simulator Facility for the MC-130J aircraft. The aircraft simulator facility will provide mission rehearsals and crew training prior to the arrival of the aircraft to Cannon in coming years.
$7.6 Million - New Wastewater Treatment Plant at Cannon Air Force Base: Funding would be used to construct a much needed wastewater treatment plant to serve the growing community.
$15 Million - SOF Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Facility at Cannon Air Force Base: To construct a new facility to plan, brief, critique combat crews and to direct flight operations in support of increased mission requirement due to expansion at Cannon.
$10.9 Million - SOF C-130 Squadron Operations Facility at Cannon Air Force Base: New facility to support the bed-down of ten operational squadrons at Cannon Air Force Base.
$10.9 Million - SOF C-130 Wash Rack Hangar at Cannon Air Force Base: Will be used to construct a permanent aircraft washrack hangar to provide all-weather capability maintenance. No facilities exist at Cannon that can accommodate the C-130 washing in a climate controlled environment, impacting flying operations and the mission.
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE:
$25 Million - Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Sustainment Center at Kirtland Air Force Base: Will be used to construct a two story facility to support nuclear mission at Kirtland Air Force Base.
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE:
$11.2 Million - Child Development Center at Holloman Air Force Base: Funding will be used to for a new child development center to provide day care services for active duty dependent children.
$5.8 Million - F-16 Academic Facility at Holloman Air Force Base: To build a new academic facility to support the transition to an F-16 mission at HAFB. Will provide academic training for two flying squadrons.
$8 Million - Parallel Taxiway Construction: Funding will be used to construct a taxiway parallel to Runway 07/25 extending from the existing Taxiway F eastward to intersect with the new taxiway being constructed.
$4.2 Million - F-16 SEAD Training Facility at Holloman Air Force Base: Funding to build a new facility to support the transition to an F-16 mission. Will provide academic training for the SEAD mission and include pilot academic training classrooms and computer based trainers.
