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ask.heather@mail.house.gov
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In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax |
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax |  |
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Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico
Home » Word-duh » Wilson Named Conferee for Defe... » Wilson Works to Increase Water... » Wilson Supports Bingaman Domen... » A True American Hero » Fliers Ready, Passports Aren`t » STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE HE... » Medicare Change Helps New Mexi... » Wilson Announces Possible Vet ... » Energy & Commerce Committee Pa... » Baca Ranch Sale is Official » KIRTLAND TAPPED FOR MAJOR NEW ... » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » Wilson Calls on Secretary Nort... » Wilson Touts NM Homeland Secur... » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » Rep. Wilson Wants to Improve T... » E-Newsletter, Volume 5, Issue ... » Wilson Appointed to House Page... » Placitas Library Gets $350K » Wilson Announces Federal Funds... » Thanking Our Troops » The Great American Jobs Machin... » Wilson Welcomes Next Step in I... » A bracelet and a simple questi... » Wilson Nails the E-mails » How you can help ... » Wilson Announces Federal Fundi... » Wilson Introduces Legislation ... » Wilson Statement on Iraq Suppl... » Wilson Added to Commerce Healt... » Wilson Supports Veterans And H... » Resources for Veterans » Kirtland AFB Hosts Successful ... » Wilson Announces Hearing on ‘S... » Wilson Announces Over $79,000 ... » Wilson Urges Stronger Federal ... » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 6 » Wilson Opposes Union-Only Labo... » E-Newsletter, Volume 5, Issue ... » Wilson: Congress Should Heed G... » Wilson’s Spam Act Passes Overw... » Wilson: Don`t Charge Parents ... » New Mexico Students Can Reach ... » Wilson Votes to Create Jobs an... » Wilson Working to Raise Profil... » Wilson Introduces NM Aquifer A... » Wilson Applauds Deal to Purcha... » Bill to Protect N.M. Land Goes... » E-Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 7 » Jobs, schools, health care fac... » We`re Back! » Wilson: House Passes Comprehen... » Wilson: Albuquerque Companies ... » ‘Scooby’s Bill’ Gets Hearing i... » Recriminations on Capitol Hill... » Wilson Opposes Bush Administra... » Statement on Colin McMillan`s ... » Wilson Works to Raise Profile ... » State of the District » E-Newsletter Volume 6 Issue 58 » A woman`s place is in... » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 28 » Facing Challenges Together » Home Heating Help » Wilson: LANL Has Long Road to ... » Adding Prescription Drugs to M... » Wilson Encourages Cuomo To Rel... » Border Patrol Job Fair » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » Wilson Asks DOE to Release Oil... » E-Newsletter Volume 4 Issue 10 » Wilson demands answer from Edu... » Welcome Home » Wilson Statement regarding res... » Wilson Attaches Amendment to P... » Wilson Votes to Override Veto ... » Wilson Opposes Troop Increase » E-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 9 » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 7 » E-Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 6 » Wilson touts education bill be... » E-Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 8 » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » Wilson Supported TB Bill Passe... » Iraq » Wilson, Pearce, U.S. House Wei... » The Electoral College » Wilson Introduces NM Water Pla... » Wilson: Medicaid Is Broken & N... » Tax Day Draws Near: Informatio... » Wilson Encouraged by Job Creat... » Congress poised to approve New... » Changing Trains » Rep. Wilson Working on $200,00... » Wilson Announces Expanded Chir... » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 25 » Video Test » Wilson Hails Funding for Viole... » Wilson Introduces Bill to Give... » Celebrate National Hispanic He... » Albuquerque Man Presented with... » Strengthening mental health ca... » Domenici & Wilson Confirm That... » Wilson Reports on Economy at A... » Wilson Sheds Light on Solar Po... » Restoring the Rio Grande » Wilson arrives from outside no... » Wilson Recognized for Work for... » E-Newsletter Volume 6 Issue 55 » E-Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 19 » Wilson Requests Funding for Ne... » The Era of Low Taxes is At Ris... » Wilson Hails Surging Economy; ... » New Mexico State Legislature » Final Defense Bill Sent to Pre... » Wilson Working To Lower Gas Pr... » Fall Fire Safety Tips » Wilson Reports Progress on Key... » House Energy & Commerce Commit... » Celebrating Women's History Mo... » E-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 4 » Wilson: NM Seniors Get a Look ... » HEALTHY New MexiKIDS » Nighthawks » Wilson Fights for the Future o...
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| Wilson Fights for the Future of Our Nation’s Defense |
May 10, 2002 |
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Congresswoman joins effort to push authorization bill through the House
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson joined the House debate on a bill that contains several components that are essential to maintaining a strong national defense. It will strengthen our nation’s security and provide a better quality of life for the men and women who protect us. The Bob Stump Defense Authorization bill, which passed the House by a vote of 359 to 58, provides for the largest budget increase since 1990 and is the largest real increase to defense spending since 1966.
“In recent years our military has been required to do more and more with less,” said Wilson. “We need to provide the resources to strengthen our defense and win the war on terrorism. This bill recognizes that America owes its military personnel good pay, good benefits, quality health care, and decent living and working conditions.”
The Defense Authorization bill addresses our nations Homeland Security needs by funding programs that improve homeland defenses against terrorists and ballistic missile attack. This bill includes approximately $7.3 billion for efforts to combat terrorism. It also includes $7.8 billion to develop defenses against ballistic missiles.
The bill provides a 4.1 percent military pay raise, with targeted further increases for mid-grade and senior noncommissioned officers and mid-grade officers. It reduces out-of-pocket housing costs for military personnel by increasing housing allowances to cover 92.5 percent of housing costs, by providing $10 billion for military construction and family housing. The bill includes nearly $20 billion for military health care and continues Congress’ commitment to reform TRICARE and TRICARE for Life programs.
The Defense Authorization bill changes current law provisions that cause military retirees who are eligible for veteran’s disability compensation to have their retirement pay reduced. It establishes a payment transition program to compensate retirees who are 60 percent or greater disabled until fiscal year 2007, when all such retirees will receive their full retirement and disability compensation.
Also included in the bill is a measure introduced by Congresswoman Wilson that requires the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to Congress on the status of female members of the military. The report would detail several aspects of life for women in the military including access to health care, positions open to women, assignment policies, joint spouse assignments, deployment availability rates, promotion and retention rates, assignments to command positions, selection for service schools, and sexual harassment.
“Women have become an integral part of today’s military,” said Wilson. “The military would simply not be able to fulfill its mission without them. It is essential that someone is mindful of the issues that face a woman in the services, and in the absence of an effective oversight committee, the report I am asking for will provide a view of the true status of women in the military.”
Wilson is the first and only woman veteran in the U.S. Congress. A graduate of the Air Force Academy, she has served on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service (DACOWITS), a committee whose charter was recently altered by the Department of Defense.
The following projects important to New Mexico are authorized in the bill:
$8.4 million for a Visiting Officer/Airman Quarters at Kirtland Air Force Base
$29.5 million to upgrade the HH-60G PAVE HAWK helicopter used by the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland and $11.6 million to configure the Wing’s MC-130P aircraft with the Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI)
$1.134 billion for nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship at Sandia Labs
$148 million for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at Sandia National Laboratories
$79 million for the Joint Technology Office (JTO)
$2.25 milion for a new vacuum pump system for the AFRL Advanced Laser
$11 million to upgrade the munitions storage complex
$2.5 million for the relocation of the Truman Gate
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