Representative Ike Skelton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Lara Battles or
Wednesday, May 25, 2005	Whitney Frost (202)225-2875

SKELTON SAYS DEFENSE BILL WOULD MODERNIZE
WHITEMAN’S B-2 MUNITIONS STORAGE FACILITIES

Washington, DC – Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) announced that the House- approved Fiscal Year 2006 National Defense Authorization bill includes $5.721 million for B-2 conventional munitions storage at Whiteman Air Force Base.

“This upgrade to munitions storage facilities is essential to the B-2 mission at Whiteman. The existing storage igloos were built in the 1950s and were not designed to accommodate today’s weapons systems,” said Skelton.

The $5.721 million in project funding would provide for the construction of 5 new conventional munitions storage igloos and for the demolition of the old storage facilities. Overall, the defense bill authorizes $441.6 billion for defense programs for Fiscal Year 2006, including $12 billion for military construction and family housing and $15 billion for Department of Energy defense-related programs. The bill also includes a supplemental authorization of $49.1 billion for activities associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Other provisions of the defense authorization bill address quality of life issues that are a priority for service members, such as a 3.1 percent military pay raise and additional incentives to boost military recruiting and retention. “Annual pay raises and other benefits show our Armed Forces and their families that we value and appreciate the sacrifices they make in order to serve our country,” said Skelton.

The House approved H.R. 1815, the Fiscal Year 2006 National Defense Authorization Act, by a vote of 390 to 39 on May 25, 2005. The House and Senate versions of this measure must be reconciled in conference before the legislation is forwarded to the President for his signature.

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Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) serves as Ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. For further information, please contact Lara Battles or Whitney Frost at (202)225-2876, or check Congressman Skelton's web site at http://www.house.gov/skelton.