U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs Committees

 

2300 15th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

 

 

For Immediate Release

November 18, 2005

CONTACT:    Cody Wertz – Press Secretary

                        202-228-3630

Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary

                        303-455-7600

 

Congress Passes Sen. Salazar’s Rural Veterans’ Legislation
Bill Includes $6.4 Million for Greeley Air Station; $12.7 Million for Peterson AFB

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congress passed legislation that will bring more than $144.7 million in new construction money for military facilities in Colorado and help rural veterans across the country.

“We need to support our guardsmen and airmen with the best equipment and facilities,” Senator Salazar said. “I am proud to have fought for this funding to get Colorado service members out of crumbling facilities and into new state-of-the-art facilities. They deserve no less.”

The legislation includes two projects requested by United States Senator Ken Salazar:

  • $6.4 million to replace a dilapidated support facility at Greeley Air National Guard Station.
    The 137th Space Warning Squadron plays a crucial role in missile warning for homeland security. However, their current support facility is antiquated and unsafe. The electrical system at the facility is dangerously outdated and guardsmen actually have to cover their computers with plastic sheets to keep them from getting wet during rainstorms. This project would demolish the current facility and build a new one on the same site.
  • $12.7 million to replace a space control facility at Peterson Air Force Base.
    The 76th Space Control Squadron coordinates a multibillion-dollar network of satellites, space systems, and other key space assets. It is scheduled to expand from 63 personnel to 186. The Squadron’s 37-year-old facility contains asbestos, lead paint, a deteriorating roof, and is located in the “no-build” zone of the flight line. In addition, the facility’s maintenance and storage space is not environmentally controlled, exposing sensitive electronics and antennas to extreme weather. The project will construct a new compound that will allow for more secure handling of classified information and will include environmentally controlled storage

The legislation passed Friday also includes a provision written by Senator Salazar to help veterans in rural areas get access to VA outpatient care.

Under Senator Salazar’s Rural Clinic Access amendment, the V.A. will be required to reevaluate health care policies for new veterans’ clinics in rural communities.

  • Over a year ago, the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Commission found that the V.A.’s system for siting new health clinics was unfair to veterans living in rural areas. While the V.A. revised its Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) planning criteria to address these concerns, the criteria for clinic prioritization codified in Veterans Health Administration Handbook 1006.1 still is tilted towards urban and suburban veterans over veterans in already underserved rural areas.

“It is beyond me why the V.A. continues to overlook veterans in rural communities. Our rural cities and towns have sacrificed too much for our Nation and asked nothing in return. Now the V.A. will make veterans in these communities a priority, too,” said Sen. Salazar.

Overall, the bill includes $72.8 million for construction projects on Fort Carson; $20.1 million for projects on Buckley Air Force Base, $27.3 million for Peterson Air Force Base; $13 million for the Air Force Academy; $5.1 million for the Grand Junction Army National Guard; and $6.4 million for the Greeley Air National Guard.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the FY06 Military Construction/ Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill (HR 2528). This is the final step before the bill is sent to the President’s desk for signature.

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