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Washington, D.C. --- The U.S. House of Representatives last night approved a Military Construction Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 that includes $49.2 million in funding for the continued construction of a new pier at Naval Weapons Station Earle. U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) requested the funds from the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this year.
The $49.2 million approved today would follow $30 million the two New Jersey lawmakers secured last year in the FY 2004 appropriations bill. Construction on the pier is scheduled to begin soon. The two New Jersey lawmakers say the entire construction project will cost about $100 million.
Pallone and Holt said the new pier would replace a pier and trestles that were built in 1944. The wear and tear the pier has experienced over the last 60 years has brought it to the end of its useable life cycle. Structural testing and engineering analyses have found major areas of deterioration.
Naval Weapons Station Earle is uniquely suited to serve as a homeport facility for AOE class ships due to a pier complex that allows for fully loaded ordnance ships to be berthed, loaded and unloaded without a waiver from the Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board. It is the only facility with this capability on the East Coast. Earle is also the closest weapons station on the Atlantic Coast to the Fifth and Sixth Fleet. Consequently, Earle ’s homeport capabilities allow for an efficiency of deployment during times of national emergency that cannot be duplicated by other homeport facilities on the East Coast.
"Due to the unique role Earle plays in US naval operations on the East Coast, it's essential that Congress take swift action to upgrade Earle to help meet our 21st century national security needs," Pallone said. "Congressman Holt and I will continue to work to secure all the necessary funds to complete this project."
"The U.S. Navy depends on Earle for combat operations, and that was once again made clear with the most recent action in Iraq. Congress recognizes that," Holt said. "With work on the pier set to begin, this funding approval will ensure a steady construction process throughout the next year."
The legislation now goes to the Senate for approval there before heading to the president's desk. Fiscal Year 2005 begins on October 1, 2004. |
