Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that a key spending bill working its way through the Senate contains millions of dollars for military design and construction projects at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the fiscal year 2009 Military Construction Appropriations Bill.  The bill contains $24.95 million to prepare Holloman for its role as an F-22 Raptor base.

"The funding included in this bill is key to ensuring that Holloman Air Force Base is prepared and equipped to support the F-22 Raptors," Bingaman said.

The bill, which contains a total of $66.75 million for New Mexico bases, included the following for Holloman AFB:

• $14.5 million to construct a Low Observable Composite Repair Facility;
• $3.15 million for the additions and alterations to the Flight Simulator Facility;
• $4.6 million to construct an Aerospace Ground Equipment Facility;
• $2.15 million to construction a Jet Engine Maintenance Shop;
• $1.05 million for additions and alterations to Aircraft Maintenance Units; and,
• $495,000 for design of a consolidated munitions handling facility at Holloman.

The FY 2009 Military Construction Appropriations bill is ready for full Senate debate.  It will be several months before the bill can be finalized.