Fort Bliss Monitor

Fort Bliss to receive funding for construction projects

Fort Bliss Public Affairs
Special to The Monitor

‘We are the only country that has the capacity and the will to fight for freedom, for ourselves and for our allies around the world, that’s why I know we will win this war.’

Kay Bailey Hutchison
Texas Senator

Fort Bliss was as much political hub as military installation during the past week, as the installation hosted visits from Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry.

Both came to tour the post following news the Army would house 3,800 additional Soldiers here beginning in 2006. And the two used their visits as an occasion to announce construction projects that would benefit Fort Bliss.

Hutchison, who was on post Aug. 4, said she would make funding for new construction a top priority. As a result of congressional legislation, she said Fort Bliss would receive $20.1 million for construction projects. The post will receive $16.5 million to construct a missile defense instruction facility and $3.6 million for a Criminal Investigation Division Center field operations building.

“I am committed to providing our Texas bases and servicemembers the best training and living environment possible,” Hutchison said. “This funding will help improve the instruction facilities and the quality of life on base for our military and their families.”

During her visit Hutchison toured old and new family housing on Biggs Army Airfield and the Biggs Arrival/Departure Facility. At the departure facility Hutchison saw the Rapid Fielding Initiative, which supplies deploying Soldiers with some of the latest and newest equipment. There she spoke to members of the 116th Brigade Combat Team, on post preparing for deployment to Southwest Asia, thanking them for their service and voicing her support.

“We are the only country that has the capacity and the will to fight for freedom, for ourselves and for our allies around the world,” Hutchison said. “That’s why I know we will win this war.”

Perry visited Fort Bliss Monday. While here the governor announced a multimillion–dollar commitment by the State of Texas to improve infrastructure, mobility and traffic flow on and around the military installation. The commitment was made following a recent Army announcement that an additional 3,800 troops would be housed on Fort Bliss in 2006.

“As one of the premier military installations in America, and home to the largest joint training exercises in the armed forces, Fort Bliss is critical to the war on terror, the livelihood of El Paso families and the entire State of Texas,” Perry said. “The Department of Defense recently recognized the importance of Fort Bliss by committing 3,800 additional personnel to the base, and today I am proud to announce that the State of Texas is committing $16.2 million … to support their stationing here at Fort Bliss.”

Potential projects identified for funding include building an overpass between Fort Bliss and Biggs Army Airfield that would ease traffic congestion on Fred Wilson Boulevard and Airport Road and provide for the efficient movement of personnel and equipment between the base and the airfield.

The local announcement follows a similar commitment at Fort Hood, where the governor last month committed more than $20 million in transportation funds to improve roads on and around the installation. In 2005 Fort Hood will gain 5,000 new Soldiers as part of the Army’s Brigade Combat Team assignments.

“I’ve asked the Transportation Commission to place both the Fort Bliss and Fort Hood projects on its Aug. 26 agenda because it is important that we get these projects moving quickly in light of the upcoming Base Realignment and Closure decisions,” Perry said.

The governor said state leaders are adopting a proactive policy in anticipation of the 2005 BRAC decisions, using projects such as these new transportation initiatives to make military installations in the state more viable and less-attractive targets for closure.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 12, 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Fort Bliss to receive funding for construction projects Fort Bliss Public Affairs Special to The Monitor ‘We are the only country that has the capacity and the will to fight for freedom, for ourselves and for our allies around the world, that’s why I know we will win this war.’ Kay Bailey Hutchison Texas Senator Fort Bliss was as much political hub as military installation during the past week, as the installation hosted visits from Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry. Both came to tour the post following news the Army would house 3,800 additional Soldiers here beginning in 2006. And the two used their visits as an occasion to announce construction projects that would benefit Fort Bliss. Hutchison, who was on post Aug. 4, said she would make funding for new construction a top priority. As a result of congressional legislation, she said Fort Bliss would receive $20.1 million for construction projects. The post will receive $16.5 million to construct a missile defense instruction facility and $3.6 million for a Criminal Investigation Division Center field operations building. “I am committed to providing our Texas bases and servicemembers the best training and living environment possible,” Hutchison said. “This funding will help improve the instruction facilities and the quality of life on base for our military and their families.” During her visit Hutchison toured old and new family housing on Biggs Army Airfield and the Biggs Arrival/Departure Facility. At the departure facility Hutchison saw the Rapid Fielding Initiative, which supplies deploying Soldiers with some of the latest and newest equipment. There she spoke to members of the 116th Brigade Combat Team, on post preparing for deployment to Southwest Asia, thanking them for their service and voicing her support. “We are the only country that has the capacity and the will to fight for freedom, for ourselves and for our allies around the world,” Hutchison said. “That’s why I know we will win this war.” Perry visited Fort Bliss Monday. While here the governor announced a multimillion–dollar commitment by the State of Texas to improve infrastructure, mobility and traffic flow on and around the military installation. The commitment was made following a recent Army announcement that an additional 3,800 troops would be housed on Fort Bliss in 2006. “As one of the premier military installations in America, and home to the largest joint training exercises in the armed forces, Fort Bliss is critical to the war on terror, the livelihood of El Paso families and the entire State of Texas,” Perry said. “The Department of Defense recently recognized the importance of Fort Bliss by committing 3,800 additional personnel to the base, and today I am proud to announce that the State of Texas is committing $16.2 million … to support their stationing here at Fort Bliss.” Potential projects identified for funding include building an overpass between Fort Bliss and Biggs Army Airfield that would ease traffic congestion on Fred Wilson Boulevard and Airport Road and provide for the efficient movement of personnel and equipment between the base and the airfield. The local announcement follows a similar commitment at Fort Hood, where the governor last month committed more than $20 million in transportation funds to improve roads on and around the installation. In 2005 Fort Hood will gain 5,000 new Soldiers as part of the Army’s Brigade Combat Team assignments. “I’ve asked the Transportation Commission to place both the Fort Bliss and Fort Hood projects on its Aug. 26 agenda because it is important that we get these projects moving quickly in light of the upcoming Base Realignment and Closure decisions,” Perry said. The governor said state leaders are adopting a proactive policy in anticipation of the 2005 BRAC decisions, using projects such as these new transportation initiatives to make military installations in the state more viable and less-attractive targets for closure.