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DEFENSE MEASURE PASSES HOUSE
Hurlburt Main Gate to be improved to ease Highway 98 congestion |
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Washington, D.C. (May 26, 2005) - U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) announced that H.R. 1815, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, was approved in the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 390-39. The measure contains numerous important military projects for Northwest Florida, including funding for improvements to the Hurlburt Gate at Highway 98 and funding for six new T-6A training planes for area Navy bases.
“This legislation is an important victory for our military, both in the First District and across the country,” Miller said. “When you take into account the across-the-board pay raise, the new military construction, and the additional hardware for area bases, we’re talking about a lot of dollars for the local economy.”
Of particular importance to Northwest Florida is a $6.5 Million authorization to improve the Main Gate of Hurlburt Field at Highway 98.
“Since 9-11, the traffic congestion on Highway 98 has gotten progressively worse near the entrance to Hurlburt,” added Miller, “By redesigning and improving the entrance to the base, we hope to minimize the impact on local traffic patterns, while continuing to provide force protection.”
The legislation includes Miller’s request for $35 Million for the JPATS (Joint Primary Air Training System) T-6A “Texan II” Aircraft. The T-6A will eventually replace the Navy’s aging T-34C aircraft for primary training at Pensacola NAS and Whiting Field.
“The JPATS program is the future of military primary air training. It is critical to get the program up and running as soon as possible,” Miller added.
Additionally the bill includes the following authorizations for area bases:
• $35.0 million for six T-6A aircraft and associated ground-based training systems.
• $10.0 million for the procurement of an additional 16 Joint Threat Warning System – Air (JTWS-A) Advanced Missile warning systems for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aircraft
• NAS Pensacola, Water treatment facility: $8.71M
• Eglin AFB, SOF Mobility/Ads Facility: $12.8M
• Hurlburt Field, Weapons Instructor Course Facility: $2.54M
• Hurlburt Field, AT/FP Main Gate/Soundside Access: $6.5M
The $441.6 Billion bill also:
• Provides a 3.1% pay raise for members of the armed forces. Increases amounts paid for active duty enlistments, reserve enlistments and active duty re-enlistments.
• Authorizes funding for force protection needs in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, including Up-armored Humvees, tactical wheeled vehicle recapitalization and modernization programs, night vision devices and improvised explosive device (IED) jammers.
• Recommends additional increases of 10,000 Army and 1,000 Marine active duty personnel to sustain our required missions.
• Permanently increases the death gratuity to $100,000; extends to one year (from six months) the amount of time dependents of deceased servicemembers can stay in housing or receive housing allowances; and expands travel authorizations for families of hospitalized servicemembers.
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