Washington, D.C. - Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2528, the Fiscal Year 2006 Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act . Larsen helped secure funding in the bill for priorities at Naval Station Everett and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The House and Senate must agree on a final version of the bill before the president can sign it into law.

This bill provides $85.2 billion in discretionary spending in fiscal year 2006, which is 7.4 percent above the 2005 level. Of that total, the bill would provide $31.5 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Veterans Affairs, an increase of just over two percent from the 2005 level.
 
Larsen supported an effort to provide an additional $2.6 billion for veterans' health care over the amount in the bill. The effort which was defeated would have been paid for by slightly decreasing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.

“Congress must honor and provide for our nation’s veterans every day, not just on Memorial Day,” Larsen noted. “This bill improves overall funding for our veterans and their health care needs, but we absolutely must do more.”

Larsen is hosting several veterans roundtable discussions while home in the district next week in order to touch base with local veterans and discuss their needs and resources available to them.

The bill included $4.01 million for High Performance Magazines for NAS Whidbey Island.

“NAS Whidbey is still using World War II era magazines that are out of date and do not fit modern munitions,” Larsen said. “This funding will allow us to build two new magazines that will cut down on response and delivery times and cut down on handling requirements.”

The bill also included important funding for additional quarters at Naval Station Everett. Specifically, the bill contains $49.9 million for constructing the first phase of Bachelor Enlisted Quarter Homeport Ashore. This project will provide an onshore home as part of the Navy’s Homeport Ashore Program for 818 personnel from the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. Each module will contain two-room private sleeping and living areas for up to four people.

“Everett is called the ‘Sailor’s Choice’ because of the excellent quality of life that we provide our sailors and their families,” Larsen said. “This project will enhance that quality of life by giving our Carrier sailors a place to stay when they come ashore.”

Currently, when ships return to homeport, sailors must sleep aboard in bunk beds in cramped spaces with dozens of shipmates.

Larsen serves on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.