Washington, DC - Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed approval today by the Senate Appropriations Committee of the Fiscal Year 2007 Military Construction Appropriations Bill, which includes $9.8 million for the Queensbury Readiness Center.

The bill will now proceed to the Senate floor for consideration. Following consideration and passage on the Senate floor, the bill will head into a Conference Committee where the House and Senate will resolve the differences between the two bills. Following conference, the bill will again be sent to the House and Senate for final approval, after which it will be sent to the President for his signature.

“This funding is crucial in securing the best training and equipment available for our courageous sons and daughters serving in uniform," said Schumer. "The Queensbury Readiness Center will allow our armed forces to be as effective as possible while at the same time contributing to our local economy. I look forward to voting in favor of these funds and will continue to urge my colleagues to do the same.”

“As our men and women in uniform continue to fight bravely overseas, we must ensure that they have the necessary support and services here at home. This funding will help make sure that we are doing everything we can to ensure their readiness for combat and we are also providing the necessary support structures for them when they are here at home,” Senator Clinton said.

The Queensbury Readiness Center facility is to house the 466th Area Medical Company and a Military Police company consisting of 261 personnel, 76 wheeled vehicles and 42 trailers. The plan is for a 49K sq ft facility and 22K sq ft unheated storage / vehicular facility totaling 71K sq ft. Units currently occupying a 99 year old facility that is 24K sq ft. The current plan would award contract in Oct ’06; start construction in Mar ’07; to be completed in Aug ‘08

###