Dodd, Lieberman Secure Connecticut Funding in Military Construction Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced that they helped secure $64.6 million for military construction projects for Connecticut military bases throughout the state. The funding, which was allotted as a part of the Military Construction and Department of Veterans' Affairs Appropriations bill, will go towards projects in Bridgeport, Middletown, and Hartford.

In addition, the bill includes $300 million for the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) - which provides financial support to military families incurring substantial losses when service-related moves force them to sell their homes in base communities such as the one surrounding Submarine Base New London.

The bill now is to be reconciled with a different House-passed appropriations bill.

"Today, the Senate has moved to fulfill its commitment to our men and women in uniform," said Dodd, "providing critical funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as for military construction and housing. This bill represents an important step toward providing our troops, veterans, and military families with the benefits they have earned and that they deserve."

"More than 700 Connecticut National Guardsmen and women recently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and these brave Americans deserve our complete support," said Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT). "The Veterans Affairs programs and military construction projects funded by this bill will allow a grateful nation to better care for our veterans while providing improved training for our Connecticut Guard and Reserve forces."

Below is a breakdown of the funds from which Connecticut stands to benefit:

• $18.5 million for construction on the Bridgeport Army Reserve Center

• $37 million to complete the Middletown Reserve Center for the Army National Guard, Active Duty Army, and Army Reserve that will train roughly 700 Soldiers.

• $9.1 million to build a 24-hr command and control center for the 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard in Hartford, which can also be deployed with the unit overseas.