HYDE-SMITH SAYS SENATE-PASSED MILITARY CONSTRUCTION BILL RECOMMENDS $83 MILLION FOR MISS. INSTALLATIONS

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HYDE-SMITH SAYS SENATE-PASSED MILITARY CONSTRUCTION BILL RECOMMENDS $83 MILLION FOR MISS. INSTALLATIONS

Senator Worked with Committee Colleagues to Fund Miss. Projects, Veterans’ Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, today voted for Senate passage of legislation that directs more than $83 million for military construction projects at Columbus Air Force Base, Keesler Air Force Base, and Army and Air National Guard Bases.

The Senate on Wednesday passed the FY2024 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill (HR.4366) as part of a package of three FY2024 funding bills. Senate passage makes the legislation available for conference committee negotiations to reconcile differences with a House-passed MilCon-VA measure.

“I’ve worked with my colleagues on the committee to support projects to improve the readiness and operational efficiency of active duty and reserve bases in Mississippi,” Hyde-Smith said. “These Mississippi projects and support for veterans will, I believe, fare well as the Senate and House work toward a single bill that can be signed into law.”

The Senate-passed MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill recommends:

$30 million to construct a T-7A Based Training System Facility at Columbus Air Force Base.
$9.5 million to construct a T-7A Unit Maintenance Training Facility at Columbus Air Force Base.
$4.6 million to construct a T-7A Egress Shop at Columbus Air Force Base.
$4.85 million to construct a T-7A Hush House Pad at Columbus Air Force Base.
$1.96 million to complete planning and design of an Air Traffic Control Tower at Keesler Air Force Base.
$2.16 million to complete planning and design of the Army Aviation Support Facility 3 in Meridian.
$22 million to complete the National Guard Readiness Center in Southaven.
$8 million to complete the Fire, Crash, and Rescue Station at Jackson International Airport.

The Senate bill also increases funding for the Armed Forces Retirement Home, which operates facilities in Gulfport and Washington, D.C. Overall, the bill would provide $296.5 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs for FY2024.

In June, Congress enacted the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which imposed caps on discretionary funding and made other changes affecting spending and revenues. According to the Congressional Budget Office, these limitations set on discretionary spending, which today’s Senate-passed appropriations measure adheres to, would reduce the budget deficit by roughly $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years.