|
|
| |
| Sat, Nov. 22, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Fayetteville VA slated for funds Saturday, Sep 24, 2005 By Elizabeth Piet Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- The Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fayetteville is slated to receive $5.8 million as part of an annual military construction bill the Senate passed this week, the state's senators announced on Friday. The $81 billion bill passed unanimously on Thursday and would fund the nation's military construction projects in fiscal 2006, which starts Oct. 1. Center director Michael Winn said he was pleased with the funding, which will pay for the design of a 155,000-square-foot addition to the medical facility. "We're growing and we're getting a lot of support from the VA and Congress," Winn said. The 51-bed facility served 43,000 veterans last year, more than doubling the number of patients in 2000, Winn said. Construction of the estimated $57 million facility is planned for 2008. "I'm pleased that our state's military construction projects are one step closer to receiving the important federal funding," Lincoln said in a statement. "I'm proud that we've included critical resources for veterans' health-care needs in Northwest Arkansas." Also included is $400,000 to design a maintenance shop at the Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center. The facility would be used for repairs of the Arkansas Army National Guard's vehicles. "Arkansas' military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan and in the aftermath of Katrina have demonstrated top-notch readiness and dedication," said Pryor in a statement. "They also deserve top-notch training facilities and living condition, and I will fight hard to keep these projects intact as the appropriations process moves forward." The bill also contains $5.6 million for Camp Robinson and $2.5 million for the Little Rock Air Force Base. The bill will next go to a House-Senate committee to iron out the differences in the bills passed by both chambers. -30- |
