FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 29, 2005

Chambliss, Isakson: Georgia will Benefit from Military Construction/Veterans Bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga,. and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today praised the completed Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2006 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, which appropriates important funds for military construction at Georgia’s military bases and for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Georgia’s military installations play a major role in the national security of the United States,” said Chambliss, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and helped draft the authorization bill associated with this appropriations bill.  “As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am pleased to help secure many of these important construction projects that will benefit our troops.”

“Georgia’s military bases are critical to our nation’s defense and have played a key role in the war in Iraq, and I am very pleased to see such a strong commitment to them from Washington,” Isakson said.

 Funding for Georgia military construction projects includes:

• $28 million for four projects at Fort Benning
• $84.6 million for six projects at Fort Stewart
• $61.4 million for one project at Fort Gordon
• $3 million for one project at Kings Bay
• $2 million for one project at Robins Air Force Base
• $7.2 million for one project for the Georgia Air National Guard at the Savannah International Airport
• $4 million for one project at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany
• $8.4 million for two projects at Fort Gillem
• $11 million for one Family Housing Privatization Initiative at Fort McPherson

Additionally, the bill includes over $70.7 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Included in the over $70.7 billion is over $31 billion for the Veterans Health Administration.  This fiscal year 2006 funding is $1.2 billion above the President’s request, and in addition to the recently approved $1.5 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2005.

“I am pleased to see that my colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee have again included increased funding for the Veterans Health Administration in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ revelation that they were facing another shortfall in their ability to care for our Veterans from the Global War on Terrorism,” said Chambliss.  “I can think of no higher priority than caring for our Veterans who were wounded in the service of our Nation.”

“As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, one of my top priorities is to make sure we take care of the veterans who have dedicated their lives to serving our country. This VA funding reflects the strong commitment we must make to the men and women who have served so ably,” said Isakson.