Horsford Request for Nellis Air Force Base Funding Approved by House

Press Release

Today, the House of Representatives approved the 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, which included Representative Steven Horsford's request for support for Nellis Air Force Base. The appropriation bill includes Horsford's $78.5 million request for five projects at Nellis that are critical to the base.

"Nellis Air Force Base employs thousands of Nevadans, provides training that allows the United States to maintain its military superiority, and is a central part of our community," said Horsford. "This funding will support necessary development and maintenance of facilities on the base."

Below is a list of the approved funding requests for Nellis AFB:

F-35 Parts Store: The Aircraft Parts Store will be the central point to receive, store, issue and ship all 18,000 plus line items of peace operating stock (POS) required to support the new maintenance requirements of the permanent beddown of 12 F-35A Primary Development/Test Aircraft and 24 Primary Training Aircraft at Nellis AFB; there are no excess or adequate facilities available that can be converted to accommodate this new requirement and beddown.

F-35 AME Storage: Additional Alternate Mission Equipment (AME) storage capacity is required to support the permanent beddown of 12 F-35A Primary Development/Test Aircraft and 24 Primary Training Aircraft at Nellis AFB; there is no excess AME storage capacity to support the addition of these aircraft and associated aircraft maintenance and equipment storage functions.

F-35 Fuel Cell Addition: A 1-bay fuel cell hangar addition is required to support the permanent beddown of 12 F-35A Primary Development/Test Aircraft and 24 Primary Training Aircraft at Nellis AFB; Nellis AFB does not have adequate fuel cell hangar facilities to support the additional 36 F-35A aircraft and associated maintenance functions.

Dorm (240 PN): A 240 room permanent party Dormitory will replace two inadequate dormitories as well as addressing an existing Nellis AFB dormitory room deficit; the existing dorms were rated as "inadequate" per the Air Force Dormitory Master Plan, and do not meet room size and configuration requirements based upon current Air Force grade allowances and do not meet force protection requirements including progressive collapse, blast protection and standoff distances from major base arterials.

RPA Weapons School: This facility will provide space for USAF Weapon School instructors, students, classrooms, mission brief/de-brief rooms, weapons tactics trainers, RPA fixed ground control stations and other training devices to support the advanced training of RPA pilots and Sensor operators at Nellis AFB; there are no excess or adequate facilities available that can be converted to accommodate this new requirement and beddown.
"The F-35 is an important part of the Air Force's future, and Nellis Air Force Base will play a key role in the operational testing of and advanced training in this critical aircraft," said Colonel Barry R. Cornish, 99th Air Base Wing Commander at Nellis AFB. "These facility investments, along with the expansion of the Air Force Weapon's School, and provision for adequate housing for single Airmen, will help Nellis Air Force Base sustain its mission in providing unmatched testing, tactics, and advanced training in the future."

Attached is the initial letter Congressman Horsford submitted in April to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies urging support for these requests.

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