“The Garden State did well,” Saxton said. “This funding is good for New Jersey and will allow our bases to contribute even more to the national defense. They are also important because base realignment and closure is coming in 2005 and these projects should be well underway by then.”
 
Saxton, the fourth highest-ranking member on the 61-seat House Armed Services Committee and the highest ranking member from New Jersey on the committee, said the projects are vital to allowing the bases to continue and enhance their roles in national security. They also play a strong role in creating local construction jobs.

“These construction projects will result in millions of dollars in work for the local economy,” Saxton said. “During a period when the economy is sluggish, this could help quite a bit.”

The military construction funding bill, which passed the House last night 428-0 with Saxton’s vote, now moves to the Senate. It  includes:

❏ For Fort Dix- a $2.7 million Urban Assault Course based on cutting-edge training techniques for multi-serve use; and a $3.7 million redesign and addition to the closed 14,000 square-foot Timmerman Theater to transform it into a modern conference center.
    
❏ For McGuire Air Force Base- a pair of projects to prepare McGuire to receive 13 C-17 Globemasters in 2004. A $6.862 million C-17 maintenance training device, and a $4.765 million utility project for road work are planned.

❏ For Picatinny- $8 million for an explosives research and development facility.

❏ For Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station- $23 million– the most in recent history– for construction of its $20.68 million planned electromagnetic aircraft launching system (EMALS) for future aircraft carriers, and $2.25 million for a battalion operations center for the U.S. Army Mid-Atlantic Recruiting battalion.

❏ For Earle Naval Station- $26.74 million for construction of a general purpose berthing pier.

Saxton said the Lakehurst funding was particularly important.