WASHINGTON, DC-- The U.S. Senate has approved the fiscal year 2007
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill that, at the request
of Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, includes $9.6 million for the
construction of a new Drydock Waterfront Support Facility at the Kittery-
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In addition, the bill includes a total of $32.7
billion for veterans’ medical services, some of which will benefit the Togus
VA medical facility. Earlier this year, Senators Snowe and Collins urged
appropriators to support increased funding for critical veterans’ programs.
In a joint statement, Senators Snowe and Collins said, “We are pleased
that our colleagues in the U.S. Senate recognize how critical it is to support
the medical facilities that serve our nation’s veterans. This bill provides
funding that will enable Togus, as well as VA medical facilities throughout
the nation, to meet the needs of their patients.
“We are also very pleased that this bill includes our request for $9.6
million for the construction of a new Drydock Waterfront Facility at PNSY.
This new drydock facility will replace the current submarine support facility
that is over 60 years old and in need of replacement, and allow the Yard’s
talented and dedicated workforce to further increase their exemplary
efficiency.”
Additional highlights of the spending bill are as follows:
* $77.9 billion for veterans’ projects and $16.2 billion for military
construction projects in fiscal year 2007.
* $32.7 billion for veterans’ medical services throughout the nation.
* $412 million total for research and development of prosthetic
technologies.
* $85 million for grants to State extended care facilities.
* The legislation rejected the Administration’s proposal to increase fees
and co-payments for veterans’ medical services.
This bill now goes to a joint House/Senate conference committee where
differences between the two versions will be worked out.