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<home> -- <press releases> -- <September 26 , 2006>

House Passes Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007
Military Pay Raise, Air Force Communications and Geospatial Technology for Pacific Operations Funded

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—September 26, 2006—Washington, DC

The House of Representatives passed tonight H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007, which raises military pay across the board by 2.2 percent, provides funding for modern equipment for U.S. Soldiers and Marines fighting the Global War Against Terrorism, and increases funding for communications equipment at Andersen Air Force Base.

“This bill addresses the most critical needs of our troops serving around the world.  It provides funding to fully equip deploying forces, while re-outfitting returning units with the proper equipment to maintain readiness,” Congresswoman Bordallo said. “Best of all, it gives a well-deserved pay raise to our men and women in uniform.  Our troops deserve the best equipment, the support of the Congress, and most of all the gratitude of our nation.”

Two items specific to Guam are included in the final bill.  Congresswoman Bordallo requested the House Appropriations Committee to add funding for these projects in the legislation.  Although the Senate did not include funding for these projects, they remained in the final bill approved tonight on the House floor.  $1 million will be made available to the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) as a result of this bill for maintenance and construction on a High Frequency Ground Control Station (HFGCS) at Andersen Air Force Base.  These ground control stations are vital to communications support for the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command (AMC) worldwide – Guam is only one of 13 locations worldwide with that has an existing station and the only station that will be upgraded next year with funding to be made available by H.R. 5631.

$500,000 in additional funding is also included in the bill at Congresswoman Bordallo’s request for PACAF and United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to improve the storage and dissemination of topography and mapping information used for military flying missions.  Both the ground control station and geospatial technology funding was not included in the President’s budget submitted to Congress in February, but is important for Pacific Air Forces mission operations in Guam and in our region.

The final bill must now be voted on by the Senate before it is sent to the White House for the President’s action.

 

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Contact: Joseph E. Duenas in Washington, D.C. at 202-225-1188 or Joy James at

671-477-4272/4.

joseph.duenas@mail.house.gov or joy.james@mail.house.gov

.

www.house.gov/bordallo


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