Washington, DC – Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed approval this week by the Senate of the Fiscal Year 2007 Military Construction Appropriations Bill, which includes $6.6 million for Phase II of the NEADS Support Facility.

The bill will now head into a Conference Committee where the House and Senate will resolve the differences between their versions. 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 is great news for Central New York,” said Senator Schumer. “NEADS’ Northeast Air Defense Sector Support Facility is crucial for our national security and for the future of former Griffiss Air Force Base. It will also vastly improve our national security technology and give our armed forces an even greater edge.”

“I am very pleased that the Senate has approved this funding for NEADS’ Support Facility which is critical to the mission and the future of the former Griffiss Airforce Base. This funding is yet another acknowledgement of the integral role that NEADS plays in our national security and defense and shows once again our continuing support for this critical research facility,” Senator Clinton said.

This bill includes $6.6 million above the President’s budget request, to complete Phase II construction of the Northeast Air Defense Sector Support Facility. NEADS requires a new support facility to replace aging ones, which are currently not co-located, and to improve force protection of assigned resources. This is a two-phase construction project with Phase I having been approved and supported with $3 million in FY-06 military construction funding. The Northeast Air Defense Sector is located on the former Griffiss Air Force Base. Unit personnel are housed in three different locations. Relocating the Headquarters building inside the SOCC Compound and moving personnel from Depot 1 to this building will improve protection of NEADS personnel and facilities.

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