WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) announced that the Appropriations Committee has approved legislation including $13.45 million he requested for Rhode Island military facilities as part of the 2009 Military Construction spending bill.

"This federal funding will upgrade Rhode Island's military bases and improve readiness and operational support for our troops," said Reed, a member of both the Armed Services and Appropriations Committees. "This federal investment is vitally important to the continued presence and growth of Rhode Island's military facilities and defense industry, which play an important role in our state's economy."

$7.7 million for Air Traffic Control Tower, Rhode Island Air National Guard
This federal funding will be used to construct a new air traffic control tower for the Rhode Island Air National Guard. The original tower was constructed in 1941 and was used for commercial flights and has been the home of the Rhode Island National Guard's 143rd Airlift Wing. While the old tower is no longer required for commercial air traffic, Air National Guard operational requirements necessitate an adequately sized, sited, and configured air traffic control tower and tower cab for the control of ground movement and air operations on and around the base.

$5 million for Army Aviation Support Facility, Army National Guard
The FY08 Defense Appropriations bill included $33 million for construction of an Army Aviation Support Facility for the Rhode Island Army National Guard. However, it is now estimated that the cost of this facility will be $38 million. This additional federal funding will allow for the completion of the facility.

$750,000 for Submarine Payloads Integration Laboratory, Navy
This federal funding will be used to help plan and design a facility to support assignments for existing deployed submarines and the new SSGN and Virginia Class submarines. The addition to the Launcher Laboratory will provide critical combat operational support, engineering support, product development, logistics support, and fleet training for existing and future U.S. navy submarine launcher/platform systems at Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport.

Passing this bill out of the full Appropriations Committee is a critical first step in the lengthy appropriations process, which may not be completed until next year. The bill must now clear the Senate and also be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. It then goes to the President's desk and would have to be signed into law.