Schumer, Clinton: $37 Million Slated For Project At Fort Drum

US Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today that Congress has given preliminary approval for $37 million for Aircraft Hanger and Site Preparation at Fort Drum. The bill is expected to be approved by the Senate when it reconvenes from recess next week.

Ft. Drums 10th Mountain Division has been at the front line in our nations war on terror around the world, and the men and women stationed at Ft. Drum make a vital contribution to the community surrounding the base, said Senator Schumer. The brave and selfless men and women for Ft. Drum deserve nothing less than our utmost support and Im proud that project supported by this funding will provide them with the best training and equipment possible.

I am so pleased that we were able to keep these funds to in the supplemental appropriations bill. Now more than ever we need to support the 10th Mountain Division, the most deployed division in the Army and I am pleased that we are making these kinds of meaningful investments for Fort Drum, Senator Clinton said.

The Aircraft Hangar and Site Preparation is required to support Transformation of the 10th Aviation Brigade to a MultiFunctional Aviation Brigade (MFAB) at Fort Drum, NY. The $37 million project includes the hangars as well as all the site preparation and utility infrastructure work for the relocatable barracks, headquarters, unit operations, unit storage, and vehicle maintenance facilities for the two additional Aviation Battalions being stood up. The transformation of the MFAB represents an increase of 52 helicopters, an increase of 1175 soldiers (from 1341 to 2516), two additional battalions, 14 additional companies, and an increase of the tactical wheeled vehicle fleet from 450 to 1026. The rapid increase of personnel and equipment requires the addition of infrastructure in order to facilitate the accession, training, and sustainment of the newly established MFAB.