Washington, D.C. -- Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Saturday that the Senate approved the FY 2009 Continuing Resolution (CR), which contains his requests for $30 million in additional funding for the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) in Richmond, Kentucky. The legislation is now on its way to the President for his signature.



Senator McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $30 million in additional funds for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) program at BGAD in Richmond, Ky. This brings the total funding level this year to approximately $430 million, representing the highest level of funding ever for ACWA.



Over the past 20 years, Senator McConnell has fought to secure funds for the safe elimination of the chemical weapons located at the facility and this additional funding will enable the ACWA program to move more quickly toward disposal. Because of the hundreds of millions of extra dollars Senator McConnell has secured for disposal efforts at BGAD and the 2017 deadline he legislated, there have been impressive strides made at BGAD since ground was broken at the construction site on October 28, 2006.



“This funding will help ensure that the Department of Defense complies with the 2017 deadline for the safe disposal of the chemical weapon stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot,” McConnell said. “The elimination of these dangerous weapons is a top priority for me, and the people living near the facility can rest assured that I will fight until these heinous weapons have been eliminated.”



The Continuing Resolution now goes to the President for consideration.



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