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U.S. House passes FY16 military appropriations bill, $79M to fund Alaska projects

By Shannon Kemp

ANCHORAGE – The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act Thursday, a bill providing $76.6 billion in funding, including $79.2 million allotted to Alaska military projects.

The money is destined for two Alaska military installations: Fort Greely and Eielson Air Force Base.

A $37 million request from Eielson AFB officials included in the bill would be used to improve existing facilities and build new ones for two squadrons of F-35A fighter jets, as well as a flight simulator for pilot training.

Eielson was named the top choice by Air Force officials to house the F-35As. Development of the base over the next two years is expected in preparation of the fighter jets and the estimated 2,000 people accompanying them.

$34.4 million was also requested by Eielson officials to replace boiler #4 at Eielson Air Force Base’s Central Heat and Power Plant, U.S. Rep. Don Young noted in a prepared statement announcing the passage of the bill.

Fort Greely officials submitted a request in February for $7.8 million for an addition to the only fitness center on base. Built in 1956, the existing structure has a pool, locker rooms, three racquetball courts, a basketball court, outdoor tennis courts, weight room, rowing machines, treadmills and a tanning booth. The addition would provide base personnel and their families with an indoor 4-lane running track and training module, with a covered corridor between the buildings.

“The extreme Alaskan winter climate coupled with near-perpetual darkness (21 hours) makes an undesirable and potentially unsafe running situation,” Army officials explained in the funding request. “Unit physical training is conducted outdoors by running along narrow roadway shoulders.”

The design portion of the project is expected to be completed in October.

The bill moves to the Senate now for consideration.