Congressman Robin Hayes - 8th District, North Carolina
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NEWS RELEASE
Congressman Robin Hayes Continues Efforts
In Support for U.S. Military Forces
FY08 Defense Authorization Directly Benefits Ft. Bragg
Hayes Works to Secure Funding for Impact Aid in Schools
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Robin Hayes (NC-8) announced that H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, was passed by the House of Representatives and contained funding authorization for critical projects that benefit Ft. Bragg, the Fayetteville area, and emerging defense companies in the Eighth District. Last week, Hayes and other Members of the House Armed Services Committee reported the legislation out of Committee with a vote of 58 to 0. Hayes was instrumental in authorizing funding for several projects important to Ft. Bragg including $365.45 million authorized for barracks, an indoor range, operations and maintenance facilities. Hayes was successful in including his TRICARE mental healthcare provisions in the bill to allow soldiers increased access to mental health counselors. Hayes, a long-time proponent of Impact Aid funding, also noted that Fayetteville area schools may qualify for Impact Aid funding included in the bill.
H.R. 1585 authorizes $504 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $142 billion in supplemental funding to support current operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Global War on Terrorism. Authorizing funding is an important step Congress takes before the appropriations process occurs.
"Getting this funding authorized by the full House is a big step. But let me be clear, that this is a step in a long process because the Appropriations Committee needs to follow through with the actual funding. However, it does put us a significant step closer to providing the military with the best equipment, healthcare and family benefits," said Hayes. "Ft. Bragg will directly benefit from several provisions in this bill including a significant amount of Impact Aid funding for schools. I worked to secure this funding for the Fayetteville-Cumberland area because it is imperative that children of military parents have a quality education with all the opportunities available in other areas. I am pleased that we will continue to provide our men and women with a pay increase they more than deserve as well as a continued commitment to quality healthcare provided in the TRICARE system."
Impact Aid Funding:
The bill authorizes $50.0 million for the Defense supplement to Impact Aid. The funding assists local educational agencies like Cumberland County Schools with military dependent students comprising at least 20 percent of the students in average daily attendance during a year. The education of military dependents is a critical quality of life and readiness issue that has a direct impact on recruiting and retaining our nation's service members and their families.
In addition, the bill authorizes $15 million to provide needed assistance to school districts heavily impacted by BRAC. An impacted school system, including Cumberland County Schools, can receive up to $1 million to hire additional teachers, renovate facilities, purchase school supplies or other necessary expenses. A school system will qualify for these funds if it expects an increase of at least 5% or 250 dependent students. With thousands of soldiers expected to arrive at Ft. Bragg in the coming years, this funding will be critical for local schools to prepare for the arrival of that large increase of children.
Federal Impact Aid is direct assistance to local school systems in counties like Cumberland that are home to federal, civilian, and military installations. Most counties rely heavily on property taxes to fund their public school system, however, federal land is not subject to property tax. School systems in these counties are at a disadvantage because they bear the expense of education children who live on the installation without being able to collect property tax for that area. Impact Aid is direct federal funding to counties to compensate for this disparity.
Since 1991, the House Armed Services Committee has appropriated educational assistance funding for local education agencies (school districts) that are heavily impacted by children of military personnel. The funding enhances the education of service members' children by addressing the unique needs of children and family members of deployed members, enabling school districts to upgrade technology, address the needs of special education children and assisting with repair and renovation of education facilities to address health, safety, ADA and classroom size concerns.
Highlights for Ft. Bragg and Fayetteville include:
Hayes worked with Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton and Ranking Member Duncan Hunter to authorize MILCON funding for building projects at Ft. Bragg in anticipation of changes to be base from the latest BRAC round. The following funds have been authorized:
$365.45 million in MILCON authorization at Ft. Bragg and Pope Air Force Base.
$4.6 million for a Reconfigurable Wireless Range System (RWRS) to implement wireless communications at Ft. Bragg training ranges.
$2.9 million to construct a fire, EMS, and police facility to support the new Linden Oaks housing area at Ft. Bragg.
$2.7 million for the Defense Security Technology Accelerator (DSTA) for a partnership for Defense Innovation Wi-Fi Test Laboratory.
TRICARE Mental Health:
Hayes requested language to alter soldiers' TRICARE benefits, which was included in the FY08 Defense Authorization, to expand soldiers' access to mental health counselors. Hayes' legislation would allow soldiers to see licensed, certified mental health counselors without a referral from a primary care physician. Currently, soldiers cannot see mental health counselors and must get prior approval from a primary care physician, which deters many from seeking treatment. Studies indicate that one in three soldiers returning from Iraq experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and need increased access to mental health services. Hayes noted that constant stress of experiencing terrorist-style tactics makes this change in TRICARE necessary since 2/3 of soldiers returning from Iraq will have symptoms of PTSD.
Defense Research in the Eighth District:
The following funds have been authorized:
$4 million for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for Superlattice Nanotechology.
$2.9 million for United Protective Technology in Stanly County for research in nanocrystalline diamond rotor blade leading edge protection.
$4 million for a Stanly County Airport Air Traffic Control Squadron Facility for the 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron (235 ATCS), North Carolina Air National Guard.
Highlights of the FY08 Defense Authorization Act include:
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