Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) announced that the Fiscal Year 2011  Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act approved July 28, by the House contains significant investments for projects and programs that will benefit military facilities in Southern Maryland.  Funding will go to the  Naval Air Station (NAS), Patuxent River, and Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Indian Head, MD, for needed facility upgrades and additions that will not only enhance our nation’s defense capabilities, but also provide for Southern Maryland’s  continued economic growth. 

“The work done at Pax and Indian Head is highly valued by the military, and the continued investment in the facilities reflect that,” stated Rep. Hoyer. “It is always a priority of mine to identify important initiatives in our communities that are deserving of federal support, and from the development of advanced weaponry to the testing of strategic aircraft, these military facilities are contributing in significant ways to strengthening the local economy, bolstering our armed forces, and maintaining our nation’s status as the premier military innovator in the world.” 

The  Atlantic Test Range Addition at Pax was included in this bill at Rep. Hoyer’s request.  The additional three projects were included in the President’s Budget, and each were strongly supported by Rep. Hoyer. 

Congressman Hoyer helped secure funding  for the following projects that will benefit Southern Maryland: 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
Atlantic Test Range Addition,  Naval Air Station, Patuxent River  – $10,160,000

Funding will be used to construct an addition to the existing Atlantic Test Range, which is the only Naval Test and Evaluation Range on the East Coast, to house new control rooms for Unmanned Air Vehicles, intelligence data acquisition laboratory spaces, as well as Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility areas. 

Agile Chemical Facility, Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head – $34,238,000

Funding will be used to replace the existing Agile Chemical Facility at Indian Head.  The current 70-year old, outdated facility no longer meets current safety standards will be replaced with a state of the art facility that will continue to be the Navy’s sole provider of torpedo fuel. 

BAMS Test and Evaluation Facility,  Naval Air Station, Patuxent River – $42,211,000

Funding will be used to construct a hangar that will house Unmanned Air Vehicles and provide administrative space, communications rooms, lab spaces, and a mission control system.  This facility will directly support the Navy’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Program which is critical to ensuring the Navy has persistent maritime Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance data collection and dissemination capability. 

Tactical UAS Facility, Naval Air Station, Patuxent River – $5,500,000

Funding will be used to construct an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Training Facility that will house the Army National Guard at Webster Field.   This Guard Unit currently houses their equipment, trains, and operates in leased space.  This will ena