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June 27, 2009

More than $17 million headed for McAAP programs, Boren says

By James Beaty

District 2 U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, figures he’s hit a milestone — and so has the McAlester area.

Boren said since he’s been in Congress, he’s secured $105 million for the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. That includes at least $17.4 million which is in the latest Defense Authorization Act.

“We’re celebrating good news today,” Boren said on Friday in a phone call from Washington D.C. “It’s a lot of money and a lot of potential job creation.”

A total of $17.4 million for the McAAP and the Defense Ammunition Center on the McAAP grounds is included in the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2010 Fiscal Year. More could be forthcoming depending on pending contracts.

The measure passed in the House on Thursday by a vote of 389-to-22.

It includes $5 million for a Bomb Line Modernization project at McAAP. The money is to be used to support new explosive load requirements and much-needed modernization upgrades, according to Boren’s office.

It also includes $7.4 million for a Mobile Ammunition Processing Facility at DAC.

Another $5 million is for development of demilitarization equipment for cluster ammunition, another DAC project.

In addition to the $17.4 million directly slated for McAAP or DAC in the new appropriations bill, Boren said another item could be significant: $7.5 million for Dual Mode Mortar SAL Integration to assist with development of a precision mortar system in rugged mountain terrain.

“That’s a ‘smart’ mortar,” Boren said.

“The contract could go to Raytheon,” said Boren, referring to the private company that sometimes contracts jobs through the base in McAlester.

“That could result in from 15 to 20 more jobs at McAAP,” Boren said.

Projects involving technology will help keep McAAP viable when there are future rounds of base-closings, he said.

The money for McAAP and DAC is included in the total $550.5 billion military budget that’s in the current authorization bill.

Boren said the $105 million in military funding which has gone to Pittsburg County is part of the total $146 million in military funding he’s helped secure since he took office in 2005.

The measure next faces another legislative test.

“It will now go to the Senate,” Boren said. “Of course, Sen. Inhofe has been very helpful,” he said, referring to U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa.

Once the military authorization bill passes in the Senate, Congress will later consider the Military Appropriations Bill —actually making the money available that is authorized in the current bill.

However, Boren noted that passing the authorization bill is one of the major steps in the legislative process. The money must first be authorized, before it can be appropriated.

“This legislation honors our troops and military families while strengthening our military readiness,” Boren said in an additional statement.

“It provides a broad range of funding to improve national security and to achieve mission success in whatever situation may arise. I am honored to secure the authorization of these specific projects for Eastern Oklahoma’s military installations.”

“With this funding, McAAP will continue to play an integral role in protecting our nation.”

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

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