News from Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and James Jeffords

Senate Approves Funding for
Vermont National Guard Readiness Center 

WASHINGTON -- Senators Patrick J. Leahy and James M. Jeffords today announced Senate approval of $11.2 million to build a new Readiness Center for the Vermont National Guard at the Burlington Airport. 

The funding was contained in the 2003 Military Construction Appropriations Act, which passed the Senate late Thursday.  The Act provides appropriations for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure. 

Senators Leahy and Jeffords worked closely with the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Military Construction to secure funding for phase one construction of the Army National Guard Readiness Center in South Burlington. The new building will be used to support military helicopter aviation operations. It will replace a facility that was built in 1954, which is now inadequate for the Guard's needs. The current facility is undersized, provides poor shelter for flight crews and aircraft, and significantly degrades the effectiveness and efficiency of flight operations, equipment maintenance and crew training. 

Senator Leahy said, “This construction project is a two-fer for the Guard and for Burlington's economy.  We have one of the finest Guard aviation regiments in the country, and our regiment needs new maintenance facilities to be ready to serve the state and the nation at a moment's notice.   This facility also will free up the existing hangar for commercial development, which will help the airport grow to serve Vermont's economy.” 

Senator Jeffords said: “I am very pleased that this new facility will significantly upgrade working conditions for Vermont Guardsmen and Guardswomen. This new facility will empower the Vermont Guard to reach new heights in aviation maintenance and training excellence.  Ultimately, this will boost the Vermont Guard's ability to retain and recruit highly qualified and motivated personnel to perform often difficult and challenging missions.” 

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