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Congress Passes Defense Related Appropriations Bills Including Projects Directly Impacting Jacksonville

Crenshaw Fought to Secure Funding for Several Defense and Military Construction & VA Projects


September 25, 2008


WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today by a wide margin, Congress passed three security-related appropriations bills included in a continuing resolution that would fund the Federal government at 2008 levels until March 6, 2009.  Two of these Appropriations bills were the Military Construction - Veterans’ Affairs and Defense Appropriations Bills, which included funding for several defense projects in Northeast Florida championed by Rep. Crenshaw. The legislation passed by a wide margin, 370-58.

Rep. Crenshaw said, “While I believe that the Democrat Majority continues to be derelict of its constitutional duty to pass all 13 major government funding bills, I am proud that we have at least passed these three bills essential to protecting Americans at home and providing the resources for our troops abroad.”  

Included in the Military Construction – Veterans’ Affairs Appropriation Bill are over $113 million worth of projects for Northeast Florida, including $3.4 million for an aircraft refueling project at Naval Station Mayport that was added to the bill at Congressman Crenshaw’s request.

Other projects for Jacksonville included in the bill: $12.9 million for Child Development Center at NAS Jacksonville; $14.9 million to upgrade Alpha Wharf at NS Mayport; $34 million to replace fuel tanks at the Defense Logistics Agency Fuel Farm on the St. Johns River; and $48.2 million for an Integrated P-8A Training Center at NAS Jacksonville (pending the Final Economic Impact Study).  Congressman Crenshaw worked tirelessly for these projects’ inclusion in the legislation from start to finish.

“Today is an especially proud day for our veterans, our military personnel, and for Northeast Florida.  A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into securing these funds, and I am pleased to see the fruit of that labor realized.  Northeast Florida has once again received a huge vote of confidence as it continues to bolster its status as a premier military community,” added Rep. Crenshaw.

The Defense Appropriation Bill included $264 million for the Joint Cargo Aircraft project, which will purchase seven C-J7J, mid-range, multifunctional aircraft for the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.  The aircraft will be constructed at the Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville once the facility is completed at the end of 2009, and will bring over 300 employees to the area.

Included in the continuing resolution, were three separate Appropriations bills – Defense, Homeland Security, and Military Construction – Veterans’ Affairs.  These pieces of funding legislation will insure that U.S. military personnel will receive the resources they need, as well as meeting the country’s commitment to the nation’s veterans.  

“With the energy crisis in the forefront of most Americans’ minds, I am also pleased that we were able to prevent the extension of the congressional moratorium on drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf.  This is a major victory for all Americans, and I applaud the Democrats decision to finally heed the desire of the American people to open up exploration to American-made energy offshore,” added Rep. Crenshaw.

Past appropriations bills have included an extension of a congressional moratorium on offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf.  Democrats finally gave in and did not include the moratorium’s extension after months of Republicans’ efforts to open up all of America’s energy resources to exploration.  

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