Washington, DC  -  The Anniston Army Depot should receive $1 million this fiscal year to finalize the planning and design for a new powertrain maintenance facility, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Saks) said today.

The funds appear as a line item in the Conference Report for H.R. 2559, the Military Construction Appropriations Act of 2004, which passed the House 417 to 5 Wednesday evening. The bill will soon go to the Senate for final passage, and if passed, will be sent to the White House for the president’s signature.

“This will be helpful to our military and I was glad to assist ANAD in moving the project forward,” Rogers said. “Further, I will continue to fight for every possible initiative that strengthens the Third District’s military facilities, and ultimately, supports our men and women in the armed forces.”

The facility would combine all reciprocating engine rebuilds under one roof, and enable the Depot to meet maintenance requirements for the Army’s Future Combat System vehicles. Currently, work is completed in a converted warehouse with repair operations scattered in ten buildings. Congress appropriated an initial $600,000 for the facility’s planning phase in 2001.

Jesse Poor, the Depot’s Chief of Staff said, “This is one of the most exciting developments at the Depot in over two decades and helps put us in a significantly more competitive position for the next 60 years.” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) added, “The residents of Alabama’s Third District are fortunate to have such an effective national security advocate in the House of Representatives and the funds he secured for the Anniston Depot are further evidence of that.”

“We certainly appreciate Congressman Rogers’ efforts in advocating for the Depot and the hard work of all its employees,” commented Ray Van Schoubroek, Secretary & Treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1945.