PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON – The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced legislation produced by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the Senate Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, that delivers $83 million to the future pilot training center in Fort Smith, raises quality of life standards for servicemembers and their families, and increases resources for veterans’ health care and benefits.

“This bill bolsters our military infrastructure through critical investments that will enhance our capabilities to defend our nation’s interests against global security threats, including by funding the future pilot training center in Fort Smith,” Boozman said. “It also helps ensure our country lives up to the promises we made to our veterans, honoring their service and sacrifice with improvements to telehealth measures, health services for women and suicide-prevention initiatives. This bipartisan measure reflects our strong commitment to the men and women who wear America’s uniform – past, present and future.”

Funding Boozman secured for Arkansas will help improve military readiness and oncology care in the state:

• $83 million to the Air National Guard to support the future pilot training center at Ebbing Airfield.

• $10 million to expand collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive centers to new sites. Arkansas currently is one of 14 states without an NCI-designated center.

This legislation also includes critical support for the construction of national defense facilities, family housing, and military hospitals and schools in addition to providing funding for veterans’ health care, benefits and modernization of the VA’s electronic health records system.