Febraury 20, 2009
SUMMARY
Having passed a new GI Education bill and $16.3 billion in new funding in 2007 and 2008 for veterans, the 2009 stimulus bill adds $2.98 billion to modernize DOD hospitals, barracks and day care centers.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SPENDING PROVISIONS
Hospitals: $1.33 billion to recapitalize our aging military hospitals and ambulatory centers. Many of these facilities are 40 or even 50 years old, and are not suited to current medical standards and practices.
Troop and family housing: $335 million to build new barracks and dormitories for our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen as well as further investments in quality family housing.
Child Care: $240 million for new child development centers on base. These facilities will help military spouses hold down jobs, and provide employment opportunities for caregivers.
National Guard: $100 million for the Army and Air National Guard. This will support our reservists who have been heavily deployed in recent years, as well as States who need Guard units for disaster assistance and homeland security.
Homeowners Assistance Fund: $555 million for assistance to military homeowners, including wounded warriors and surviving spouses, who have been impacted by the housing crisis.
Wounded Warriors: $100 million for warrior transition complexes to provide services to wounded warriors and their families.
Energy Conservation Investment Program: $120 million to make military facilities more energy efficient and save taxpayers money.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization: $4.2 billion to be used to invest in energy efficiency projects and to improve the repair and modernization of Department of Defense facilities to include Defense Health facilities.
FURTHER ASSISTANCE RELATED TO DEFENSE SPENDING PROVISIONS (in millions)
Restoration and modernization of Defense facilities in U.S. and territories $3,840 Department of Defense Public Communication:
703-428-0711. No information available at this time on specific Defense Construction Provisions in the Stimulus Bill. Law requires Department of Defense to provide a list of approved construction projects to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees within 30 days of law enactment. http://www.defenselink.mil
Research and development of renewable energy generation for military $300
Improvements and reparations to military medical facilities in U.S. and territories $400
Department of Defense spending oversight $15
Army child development centers $80
Army "warrior transition complexes" $100
Navy and Marine Corps troop housing $100
Navy and Marine Corps child development centers $80
Navy and Marine Corps energy conservation and alternative energy projects $100
Air Force troop housing $100
Air Force child development centers $80
Defense hospital construction $1,330
Defense energy conservation investments $120
Army National Guard construction $50
Air National Guard construction $50
Army family housing construction and repairs $38
Air Force family housing construction $97
Programs for military homeowners facing mortgage problems $555 Agency: US Army Corps of Engineers Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) (http://hap.usace.army.mil/) Phone number: 1-800-861-8144 (Savannah office covers PA). Applicants seeking assistance under the expanded guidelines may submitt applications, however no action will be taken until updated guidance from DoD is released. Typical application turnaround time is 4-5 months. Web site contains specific information on how to apply, and what documentation is needed for current program, which will be similar for those who now qualify under the expanded criteria. For assistance in Congressman Sestak's office, contact Rob Sorensen (202) 225-2011. HAP main website http://hap.usace.army.mil/ Savannah Filed Office Website: http://www.sas.usace.army.mil//hapinv/index.html
Media Contact:
Jonathon Dworkin
Jonathon.Dworkin@mail.house.gov
610-892-8623