"This legislation makes important improvements and critical investments to improve the operations and quality of life for both military personnel and the citizens of Maine," said Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement. "We applaud the approval of this funding which will upgrade and modernize both the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery and the Brunswick Naval Air Station, increasing the efficiency of operations."
Funding for Maine projects included in the Fiscal Year 2003 Military Construction Appropriations bill include:
$11.60 million for anti-terrorism/force-protection improvements at Kittery-Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. $3.60 million for gate 1 security improvements at Kittery-Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. $9.83 million for an air control tower upgrade at Naval Air Station Brunswick. $5.0 million for 22 replacement homes for enlisted families at Naval Air Station Brunswick.
The overall legislation provides $10.4995 billion for planing, design, construction and improvements of military facilities world- wide, for both active and reserve forces. It also finances the construction, alteration, improvement, operation, and maintenance of family housing, certain types of community impact assistance, and the U.S. share of the NATO Security Investment Program. The overall agreement provides some $835 million more than the President''s fiscal 2003 request.
The legislation will provide a total of $5.6 billion for military construction, $4.2 billion of this funding will be used to improve existing family housing and build new units within the Department. The conference agreement also includes $561.3 million for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) for costs associated with BRAC actions from the last round of BRAC. This funding includes environmental cleanup at closed, closing, and realigned bases. The NATO security investment program will receive $167.2 million, which is the U.S. share of the NATO construction costs.