Drum project financing gets OK

WASHINGTON — Tens of millions of dollars in construction sailed through the House on Wednesday night as part of an annual spending bill for military construction.

The bill passed 411-6.

Rep. William L. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, helped steer through one project, a $6.7 million alert holding area, into the measure. Ten other projects were requested by the Obama administration, promising a busy construction season at Fort Drum next year and beyond.

With House passage, attention now turns to the Senate, which is working with a slightly different list of projects for Fort Drum. The project endorsed by Mr. Owens is not in legislation the Senate is considering, but another project backed by Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, Democrats of New York, a $7.6 million railhead, is in the list senators are working with.

A final list will be crafted after the Senate completes action, then both chambers will vote on a final bill.

The projects in the House bill include, in addition to the alert holding area, $55 million for the first phase of a new brigade complex; $55 million for transient training barracks; $61 million for a battalion complex; $16.5 million for an aircraft maintenance hangar; $14.6 million for an aircraft fuel storage facility; $8.2 million for an infantry squad battle course; $18.5 million for a training aids center; $20.4 million for a 20th Air Support Operations Squadron complex; $27.9 million for a West Point Middle School add/alternate; and $2.5 million for support facilities for the Air National Guard's unmanned aircraft program.