| June 17, 2003 |
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) has helped pass two bills out of the House Appropriations Committee that will fund improvements to American military bases and strengthen domestic protections against terrorism. The Committee today voted to send the Military Construction and Homeland Security Appropriations bills to the House floor.
The Military Construction bill provides more than $6 million for two construction projects at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base. The base would receive $3.52 million to build a new passenger terminal and $2.66 million to construct a Joint Service Police Station to house Navy, Air Force, and Texas Air National Guard Security personnel. The existing passenger terminal and police station are in poor condition and will be demolished.
Granger, a member of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee since 1999, requested funding for both the new buildings.
"This investment in the future of the Fort Worth NAS/JRB will further help the men and women at the base contribute to our national defense," said Granger. "I will continue to fight for this funding as the Military Construction bill is considered."
The Homeland Security bill calls for increases in a wide range of programs, including border protection, air marshals, port security, and President Bush’s Project Bioshield to combat biological and chemical weapons. In addition, the Committee approved an increase of $900 million for one of Representative Granger’s top priorities in the legislation – first responders.
"Local policemen, firemen, and emergency medical workers are at the front lines of the war on terror," said Granger. "Their mission – protecting hometowns – is also ours and this bill reflects that."
Congresswoman Granger was named to the new Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee in January of this year. The subcommittee oversees all of the agencies in the Department of Homeland Security and determines funding for every aspect of the new Department, which marks the most significant transformation of the U.S. government in over half a century.