Rep. Courtney: Veterans Continue to be a Priority for this Congress

Press Release

Rep. Courtney: Veterans Continue to be a Priority for this Congress

District Veterans and Subase New London Receive Significant Funding in VA/Milcon

Congressman Joe Courtney announced today that the House approved the Fiscal Year 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill today, which includes significant new federal funding for veterans and an important boost in funding for Subase New London.

"I am proud to be a part of a Congress that has once again made our veterans a clear national priority," stated Courtney. "Last year, we reversed years of stagnant and inadequate funding to provide our veterans with the largest increase in resources in nearly eighty years. The 2009 budget again puts the care of our veterans first and treats them with the admiration and respect of a grateful nation with which they deserve. After struggling for years to get Congress to act on the critical needs of our veteran community, it has been the leadership of the 110th Congress that has restored our nation's commitment to those who have served us."

"This isn't just about budget lines and funding levels. It's about making critical progress in the improved diagnosis, treatment and support that all of our veterans, both those who have served in previous conflicts and those returning from today's wars, unquestioningly deserve."

However, while national veterans' organizations strongly support this legislation and have called for its swift passage, the President issued an ill-advised veto threat for the bill yesterday. In opposing the bill, the President has insisted that any increases in veterans' funding be offset through cuts to other programs - including investments in homeland security, renewable energy, healthcare, and education.

"The use of our veterans as political bargaining chips is as offensive as it is outrageous," Courtney stated. "The President should join Congress in supporting the pressing needs of our veterans and troops returning from the war, which have gone unaddressed for far too long under his watch."

Veterans Funding:

The bill provides a total of $47.7 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $2.9 billion more than the President's request and $4.6 billion more than fiscal year 2008. With this increase, the VA can hire 1,400 new claims processors to continue to reduce the claims backlog.

This increase also provides for an additional $1.6 billion for the Veterans Health Administration over current funding levels. These funds will allow the Department to increase access to services, ensure safer facilities and improve treatment including:

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$50 million more to increase the gas mileage reimbursement rate from 28.5 cents to 41 cents per mile for veterans traveling distances for care;
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$116 million more to increase availability of new generation prosthetics;
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$58 million to restore the cut taken by the Department for medical research in trauma, mental health and other areas that are critical to finding the best treatments for our OEF/OIF veterans, and to increase funding for research in areas that are most important to the veteran population;
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$40 million more to provide the additional case workers and medical services needed for our homeless veterans.
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$400 million, not requested by the President, to start enrolling 10 percent of Priority 8 veterans. An estimated one half of all uninsured veterans are Priority 8. Priority 8 veterans have not been enrolled since 2003 as part of an Administration effort to cut costs.

Military Construction:

"Eastern Connecticut is a key part of our nation's security, and this bill provides the resources necessary to support Subase New London and our Connecticut National Guard," Courtney said. "Replacing Pier 31, one of Subase New London's oldest and most outdated submarine piers, will help ensure that the base will continue to support the needs of the submarine force of today and tomorrow. I have made investing in the infrastructure of Subase one of my top priorities in Congress, and I thank my colleagues for their support of this important project."

"This bill also supports two key priorities for the Connecticut National Guard in our region," Courtney continued. "The Regional Training Institute will provide the modern facilities to train, support and shape future leaders of the National Guard. In addition, the expansion of the engine shop at Bradley is the cornerstone of the 103rd Airlift Wing's continued transition from BRAC to their future missions."

The bill provides nearly $81 million in military construction funding priorities for eastern Connecticut, including (click on the highlighted text to download additional background information):

* $46 million for the replacement of Pier 31 at Subase New London. The current pier is 33 years old and designed to support older classes of submarines. The aging infrastructure of the base was a significant issue during the 2005 base closure process, where the age and condition of the base, specifically the inadequacy of the waterfront piers, factored significantly against the base in the scoring and analysis. This funding will support construction of a new pier that will enhance the base's ability to service today's modern attack submarine force and strengthen the base's operational infrastructure.

* $28 million for a regional training institute (RTI) for the Connecticut National Guard at Camp Rell, Niantic. The RTI at Camp Rell will provide an educational facility complex to support leadership training for the National Guard in Connecticut and across the Northeast. Today, leadership training is currently located in a series of temporary WWII vintage, wooden buildings. These buildings do not meet the minimum Army requirements for classroom, dining, or billeting; nor do they meet the quality of life standards imposed by the Installations Directorate as well as the OSHA requirements for lighting. The facility is 74 years old and has been determined to be too costly to maintain, to operate, or to rehabilitate.

* $7.2 million for the expansion of the Connecticut Air National Guard's engine repair shop, Bradley International Airport. BRAC 2005 directed the Connecticut Air National Guard to use their aircraft hanger as an expanding Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) facility. With this new mission, the Bradley CIRF will service and maintain A-10 engines from units throughout the Northeast and the east coast, a core capability of the men and women of the Connecticut National Guard. However, since BRAC, the Air National Guard has been assigned a new flying mission and, as a result, the hanger is no longer available for the engine repair mission. The existing facility is only able to support work on 24 engines, far short of the 74 required, and must be expanded to support additional work space, parts storage, engine storage, shipping and receiving, personnel training and administrative support areas. The $7.2 million provided will improve and expand the existing engine facility to fully support this critical engine repair mission. The funding was requested by Reps. Courtney, Larson, Delauro, Shays and Murphy. Although located in the first congressional district, many of the airmen stationed and employed there reside in the second congressional district.

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