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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

JOE FOSS FIELD RECEIVES FUNDING FOR FACILITY AND COMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE

Herseth Secures $5.5 Million Earmark in Military Quality of Life – Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill

November 18, 2005, Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth announced that the South Dakota Air National Guard at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls will receive $5.5 million for a facility and communications upgrade. The Military Quality of Life – Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill conference report preserved the earmark, which Rep. Herseth had secured in the House version of the bill earlier this year.

Herseth said, “This funding is an investment in the future of the Air National Guard base in Sioux Falls. It represents an important installation upgrade to Joe Foss Field, and will be an essential part of preserving and growing the mission in Sioux Falls.”

This funding enables the Air National Guard base at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls to construct a new facility to accommodate security force functions such as command, law enforcement, and training. The communications upgrade will include computer operations and storage, technology centers, audio visual equipment, base services and comptroller functions. The base is slated to receive additional F-16 fighters in the coming years, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process

The conference report also includes $8.4 million for a Maintenance Group Headquarters Facility at Ellsworth Air Force Base, as well as $14.4 million for 60 family housing units there.

The report also contains $1.2 billion to fix a shortfall in veterans’ health care for FY 2006.

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.  She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America.  She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests:  Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Resources.