REP. CALVERT APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF MILITARY CONSTRUCTION-VETERANS FUNDING BILL

Rep. Calvert (R-CA), a member of the Appropriations Committee, lauded the House passage of the FY2012 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill.

"The passage of the military construction and veterans funding bill marks a return to regular order and an open process in which every Member can represent their constituents' interests," said Rep. Calvert. "Most importantly, the bill provides the necessary resources for our military and veterans communities."

The total discretionary fiscal year 2012 funding for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs is $72.535 billion, a decrease of $1.252 billion from the budget request, and $615 million below the fiscal year 2011 appropriation. The bill reflects the need to provide for U.S. service members and veterans while recognizing the fiscal restraints in the current economic environment.

Highlights of the bill include:

• $1.1 billion for construction of 16 Department of Defense hospitals and clinics, which fully funds the request in fiscal year 2012.
• $1.3 billion for National Guard and Reserve Component construction.
• $483 million for construction of Department of Defense schools
• $373 million for new construction of family housing.

Locally significant items include $16.393 million for the construction of a much-needed new air control tower at March Air Reserve Base (MARB) in Riverside, California. MARB is home to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing and is an integral part of Marine deployments from Camp Pendleton to Afghanistan as well as other mobility missions serving our Armed Forces around the world.

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