Bishop for Congress

Albany Herald: June 18, 2004

Millions Allotted to MCLB

http://albanyherald.net/front.html

Rep. Sanford Bishop says a federal allocation of about $134.2 million to MCLB-Albany is a good indication of the base's importance.

LEE ANN LIVESAY

ALBANY - Albany's Marine Corps Logistic Base can reasonably expect a big present from the federal government soon - about $134.2 million in the defense appropriations bill.

U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, announced Thursday that MCLB-Albany should receive about $134.2 million of the $416.9 billion appropriations bill that was approved by the Appropriations Committee Wednesday.

That bill includes $25 billion requested by President Bush for early fiscal year 2005 costs associated with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The appropriations bill includes $132.7 million for the development and retrofitting of Amphibious Assault Vehicles that are being used in Iraq and $1.5 million to replaced outdated sewer lines on the base.

"It's a positive, the fact that (the base) is needed to carry out our defense missions ... and it indicates that the base is performing a very, very needed function for our national defense," Bishop said.

According to Capt. Steve Butler, Base Commander Col. Joseph Wingard declined a request by The Albany Herald for an interview, saying it was too soon to comment on the allocation.

Bishop said the initial request of $58.5 for the funding for MCLB-Albany came from the president. The Appropriations Committee felt more was needed and increased that amount by about $74 million.

Those funds will be used to rehabilitate and replace assault vehicles that were used or damaged in Iraq. A number of military vehicles were left behind when they broke during the initial push into Baghdad last year.

According to Bishop, those vehicles will then be prepositioned in Jacksonville, Fla., for the next deployments.

Bishop said the funding also provides work for the Marine Base and the men and women who work there, calling it a big boost for the base. He said the work at the base should last between 18 and 24 months.

"It expresses confidence in their ability to complete assignments," Bishop said. "When the base is busy, that's a good sign. That means we're essential."

According to Bishop, the fact that the base has been assigned this new mission is "a reflection of the fact that they do great work and a recognition of the high level of competency" at the base.

Bishop said the $1.5 million for the sewer lines is just some infrastructure work that has to be done.

MCLB-Albany was not the only Southwest Georgia project that got funding. Lockheed Martin in Americus is slated for $58.67 million for a wind-corrected munitions dispenser and $4 million for the Sunshine Road Ammunition Route at Ft. Benning is also included in the appropriation bill.

All these projects have to be approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill will also have to be signed by the president.

Bishop said rarely will projects this significant be taken out of an appropriations bill.

LATEST NEWS

A proposal that would provide tobacco farmers with a $9.6 billion buyout in exchange for them dropping a federal quota program that has propped up the price of the crop since the Great Depression would be an "economic shot in the arm" for hard-pressed tobacco growing communities, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop said.

Rep. Sanford Bishop says a federal allocation of about $134.2 million to MCLB-Albany is a good indication of the base's importance.

Millings said that speaking with constituents is one of his favorite parts of the job and that he has come to believe that it is really important for constituents to maintain a close relationship with their congressman. He has been especially impressed with the amount of time that Bishop devotes to meeting and speaking with individual constituents and groups.