Military facilities in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties Thursday came much closer to securing nearly $300 million in federal money slated for military-related projects in Bethesda, Suitland and Andrews Air Force Base.
The U.S. Senate approved $21.55 billion for military construction costs in the 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill, including $963 million for the state of Maryland.
The local breakdown:
» $214.8 million in base realignment and closure money for the joint medical command headquarters at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda,
» $52.1 million for the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland,
» $28 million in base realignment and closure funds for the Air National Guard and Readiness Center headquarters at Andrews Air Force Base.
House Appropriations Committee staff told The Examiner that the House version of the bill, passed June 15, did not break down funding on an individual facility basis. According to Appropriations Committee staff, representatives will negotiate with senators over individual military project funding during a conference committee meeting sometime next week.
“While we’re going to be working everything out on the individual level in conference committee, overall, this bill includes $207 million more than the president requested,” said Josh Taylor, press secretary for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee chairman Chet Edwards, D-Texas. “It’s also $8.2 billion more than what was spent on military construction in 2007.”
Even though conference committee negotiations lie ahead, Maryland Democratic Sens. Barbara and Ben Cardin were already claiming victory over the Senate’s passage of the bill.
“I told Maryland’s military leaders I would fight for this funding,” Mikulski said in a written statement. “My promises made are promises kept.”
Cardin said: “I am proud that this bill contains the resources necessary to provide Maryland’s installations and communities with the resources needed to implement the BRAC recommendations, care for our veterans, and improve the quality of life for military families.”
