APPROPRIATIONS BILL CLEARS COMMITTEE WITH PEASE INVESTMENTS

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Continuing her efforts to bring the new KC-46A aerial refueling tankers to Pease Air National Guard Base, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced today that federal resources for facility construction at Pease were included in the FY 2015 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies funding bill. The provisions backed by Shaheen were cleared by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today and will fund the development of major construction projects for the next generation KC-46A air refueling tankers to be housed at Pease, pending a successful completion of the environmental impact study. The Air Force project at Pease is estimated to create 100 jobs and invest millions in New Hampshire’s economy.

“The development of the KC-46A project is important for our national security, Pease Air National Guard Base, and New Hampshire’s economy as a whole,” Shaheen said. “The facility construction resources we included today will help prepare the base for the new aircraft and will move the project forward.”

The appropriations bill approved by the committee will specifically support three facility construction projects at Pease, which was selected as the first Air National Guard unit to receive the next generation KC-46A air refueling tanker to replace the current fleet of 1950s era KC-135s. Earlier this week, Shaheen and U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) authorized funding to support the project’s development in this year’s consideration of the Defense Authorization bill during their Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support markup of the legislation.

The funding bill passed by the full Appropriations Committee also includes a number of other Shaheen provisions that  will help reduce the veterans’ disability claims backlog and improve the functioning and access of Veterans Affairs veterans support programs and health care.