Press Release

May 10, 2006

Appropriations bill Funds Critical Projects in Georgia’s 2nd District Includes nearly $370 million for Ft. Benning and Marine Corps Logistics Base; New Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program for Phoebe Putney Hospital

Washington, D.C. Today, Congressman Sanford Bishop, a Member of the House Appropriations Committee announced that nearly $370 million in military construction and related funding will be headed to Georgia’s Second Congressional District in the fiscal year 2007 Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which was approved by the full House Appropriations Committee today.

The Marine Corps Logistics Base at Albany is designated to receive $4,960,000 for construction of a Combat Vehicle Warehouse, and $66,000,000 to complete land acquisition at Blount Island. Additionally, the bill provides $2,000,000 for the creation of a new Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) “Center of Excellence” at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, Ga.

“This funding is vital to maintaining and improving our military installations and to meeting our ever expanding mission,” said Congressman Bishop. “I was particularly gratified that the Committee supported our efforts to increase the attention and resources provided to address post traumatic stress disorder in southwest Georgia. This is a growing challenge, particularly among our troops returning from the Middle East, and it is important that we provide all the support they need in this area. Creating a PTSD Center of Excellence at Phoebe Putney Hospital should prove to be a tremendous asset for our military families who reside in southwest Georgia and the community at large.”

Most of the projected $300,000,000 for Ft. Benning construction will result from financial resources which are expected to be generated under the recently approved Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process in FY07. The final BRAC new construction plan developed by the Department of Defense for Ft. Benning must still be approved by the full House and Senate, and is subject to change.