Strickland, Kilmer, Cartwright Urge Biden Administration to Invest in Infrastructure for Defense Communities

Press Release

On Thursday, U.S. Representatives Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), and Matt Cartwright (PA-08), sent a letter to President Joe Biden to encourage his Administration to support increased funding in his Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP). The program is designed to address deficiencies in community infrastructure that supports a military installation, to enhance the military family quality of life, resilience, or military value -- including at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Naval Base Kitsap. (Please find a copy of the letter below and at this link)

"In the months and years ahead, as we recover from the COVID-19 crisis, infrastructure investment in our local defense communities can be a desperately needed economic force multiplier," the lawmakers wrote.

They continued, "In 2019, Congress created DCIP to assist state and local governments in addressing shortfalls in community infrastructure projects surrounding military installations. As you know, the communities surrounding a military installation play an integral part in supporting the installation as well as our active service members, their families, and the federal workforce. While the last BRAC round increased the size of some military installations, it woefully neglected to focus requisite attention on the surrounding community's infrastructure. Attention to DCIP is also vital as projects funded through this program can preserve and enhance military readiness and security. […] We respectfully request that you support significantly increasing funding for DCIP in your budget for FY2022."

Dear President Biden,

As we look to find ways to strengthen our communities in this time of economic hardship, I encourage you to look at important programs which help communities throughout the country. Given your recent comments regarding a recovery relief package led by infrastructure, you are well aware of how critical infrastructure is to a community.

The Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation is ideally placed to quickly get funding out the door and into our communities. DCIP is designed to address deficiencies in community infrastructure, supportive of a military installation, to enhance the military family quality of life, resilience, or military value. In the months and years ahead, as we recover from the COVID-19 crisis, infrastructure investment in our local defense communities can be a desperately needed economic force multiplier.

In 2019, Congress created DCIP to assist state and local governments in addressing shortfalls in community infrastructure projects surrounding military installations. As you know, the communities surrounding a military installation play an integral part in supporting the installation as well as our active service members, their families, and the federal workforce. While the last BRAC round increased the size of some military installations, it woefully neglected to focus requisite attention on the surrounding community's infrastructure. Attention to DCIP is also vital as projects funded through this program can preserve and enhance military readiness and security.

In FY2020, DCIP was appropriated $50 million and in its first year it garnered 109 proposals and awarded 16 grants. The awards included proposals for infrastructure upgrades, community centers, facility upgrades for school districts, and early childhood centers. We respectfully request that you support significantly increasing funding for DCIP in your budget for FY2022.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as a Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

###

Source