Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. RYAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which increases Army construction funding by $103 million to address extensive flood damage at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

A few weeks ago on July 9, New York's Hudson Valley, along with other parts of the Northeast, was devastated by a once-in-a-millennium flood that saw nearly 10 inches of torrential rainfall arrive on the Hudson Valley in just a few hours, washing away homes of our military families, devastating roads, businesses in the surrounding community, and tragically costing the life of a young woman in the surrounding community just outside West Point.

My alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point, was hit particularly hard. I have been on the ground multiple times seeing the damage firsthand, along with colleagues from both sides of the aisle, to assess the extent of the damage. We have decimated roads, collapsed cliffside routes, compromising damage to barracks, bridges, and facilities critical to carrying out the vital mission of the United States Military Academy at West Point. In particular, I draw attention to the fact that all of the enlisted soldier barracks, serving hundreds of enlisted soldiers at the garrison have been completely destroyed. There is nowhere for these soldiers on post to live, causing a cascading effect and a real housing crunch across the post.

As of this moment, the cost estimates to rebuild are increasing each day, presently topping out at over $100 million. As we know, West Point serves a mission-critical role in our Nation's national security--the world's premier leadership institute, creating leaders and shaping the future of our Nation's Army. This institution made myself, many of my colleagues across the aisle, and many others of our Nation, into leaders. We cannot stand by during this time of need for such a critical national security resource.

Allowing West Point to be hamstrung by such significant damage imperils our military readiness, and we must ensure the institution has the resources it needs to urgently repair and rebuild and get back to their mission.

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Mr. RYAN. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleagues for the bipartisan support of this critical amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. RYAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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