Oklahoma military installations stand to make major gains in appropriations under federal funding bills as Sen. James Lankford and others on the Senate Appropriations Committee work on the measures before an early December deadline.
The Republican Senator said the improvements and gains are included in federal funding bills for the Veterans Administration, Department of Defense, and State and Foreign Operations.
“I am proud of the work we did to secure funding and policy provisions for our Oklahoma service members and their families, our Oklahoma National Guardsmen and women, our veteran community, and civilian workers to advance their installations’ missions,” said Lankford.
The Appropriations Committee faces a December 11 deadline. Sen. Lankford said the bills include funding for a new Tulsa VA hospital, funding for the Ammunition Demolition Shop at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, money to stain the MC-12 for the Oklahoma National Guard, funding for 15 KC-46 tankers as well as the Long Range Strike Bomber (B-21) to be maintained at Tinker Air Force Base, and funding of the Paladin Integrated Management system at Fort Sill.
The Senator said there are other Oklahoma programs including continuing optional faith-based programming to help prevent veteran suicide and providing support to service members as they transition from active duty to civilian life.
The bills also include funding for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense or THAAD anti-ballistic missile defense located at Fort Sill and the Long Range Precision Fires Technology team located at the Fort.
In September, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the government at current levels through December 11, 2020. This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee released all 12 funding bills.
Source: Lankford release
