Ramp Safety Project Bucks Tight Construction Budget

( Washington D.C.) -Congressman Mac Thornberry (TX-13) today announced that the House Armed Services Committee has approved a defense spending bill that includes funding for Sheppard Air Force Base. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 1585) was approved by the Armed Services Committee on a unanimous 58-0 vote. The bill authorizes spending totaling $646 billion; $504 billion to fund national defense operations, as well as $142 billion to fund the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other efforts to defeat terrorism.

The bill provides a 3.5 percent pay raise for members of the Armed Forces, once again funds the TRICARE military retiree medical program without increasing fees, and extends the prohibition the committee enacted last year on retail pharmacy cost share increases for military retirees.

"People are our most important national defense resource. The pay and benefits authorized in this bill will allow us to continue to attract America's best and brightest to volunteer for our armed forces," said Congressman Thornberry, a Ranking Republican member of the Armed Services Committee, "and maintain the quality of life for our military retirees."

Funding for Sheppard includes $7 million to begin construction of a new base operations ramp for military aircraft. The ramp currently used for military purposes at Sheppard poses a number of logistical problems. For example, it is located away from the central military aircraft operating area and requires crossing the municipal runway. The new ramp will improve safety and reduce the mixing of commercial and military aircraft operations.

"Sheppard Air Force Base is one of America's premier military training facilities. The House Armed Services Committee recognized the Sheppard ramp as one of only two military construction projects in Texas deemed important enough to merit specific additional funding above the President's request in the bill," concluded Thornberry, "In a year when military construction funds are tight I am particularly pleased that this project was supported by the Committee."

A vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives on the Defense Authorization Act is expected in the next two weeks.

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