Rep. Kirkpatrick Announces Appropriations Victory for Security Gate Infrastructure At Davis Monthan Air Force Base and Morris Air National Guard Base

Press Release

Rep. Kirkpatrick announces new funding victories from the FY2021 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill, which passed the full Appropriations Committee on a vote of 30 to 20. The legislation supports our military personnel, bolsters resources for military families, and provides robust funding for veterans' benefits, healthcare, and other programs.

"This is a win for Davis Monthan, the Morris Air National Guard Base, and our military community throughout Pima County," said Rep. Kirkpatrick. "I was able to secure language to accelerate the construction of new security gate complexes for Davis Monthan Air Force Base and the Morris Air National Guard Base at Tucson International Airport. My language would put these key projects in the best position to receive accelerated funding, allowing the entrances of these bases to be large enough to fulfill current military security requirements while reducing traffic at entrance intersections."

Rep. Kirkpatrick's Arizona priorities were successfully included and approved in today's vote. Some of the toplines the Rep. Kirkpatrick highlighted, include:

Secured language to accelerate the construction of the Wilmot South Gate entrance to Davis Monthan Air Force Base, and the new Access Control Gate at the Tucson Air National Guard Base at Tucson International Airport.
"I'm thrilled to honor the service of our nation's military and veterans on the Appropriations Committee by fighting for their access to benefits and ensuring the readiness of our military," said Rep. Kirkpatrick. "This year's Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill makes critical investments in veterans and military families, solidifies our national security infrastructure, and blocks President Trump from stealing appropriated funds from servicemembers."

In addition to some of the major Arizona priorities, Rep. Kirkpatrick was instrumental in helping the subcommittee allocate national funding priorities.

In total, the bill provides $250.9 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding, an increase of $15.2 billion above the fiscal year 2020 enacted level and $2.3 billion above the President's budget request. Of this amount, discretionary funding totals $115.5 billion, an increase of $5.1 billion above the fiscal year 2020 enacted level. This includes $350 million in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding, as well as $12.5 billion in emergency appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs to address the sharply rising cost of providing health care for Veterans.

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