Press Release Says, Defense Authorization Supports Alaska Territorial Guard

Posted: July 24th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: 2009

Legislation also increases pay for military personnel, improves health care programs

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, successfully led passage of an amendment to restore military benefits to 26 Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) members who served the United States during World War II. Late tonight Begich amendment 1572, co-sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, was passed by unanimous consent as part of the $679.8 billion National Defense Authorization Act of 2010.

“These brave Alaskans will get the recognition they earned and deserve,” Sen. Begich said. “Getting these retirement benefits restored for the service members who were part of the front line of defense of our country is a huge victory for them, Alaska and our country.”

Earlier this year the Defense Department abruptly ended the retirement payments for the ATG members after it was determined the law allowing the payments had been misinterpreted and they weren’t legal. The bill fixes the language in the law ensuring the time in the ATG is counted as active duty military service and reinstates the payments.

If the bill stays intact through the conference committee phase of Congressional action and goes to the President, the payments could be restored by the fall.

“I appreciate the work of my Senate colleagues on the issue and the leadership of Chairman Carl Levin and Ranking Member John McCain on the bill,” Begich said.

The Defense Authorization Act also has other key provisions that positively impact all military men and women and their families and key construction projects in Alaska.

Other provisions in the bill include:

· $129.3 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan including $7.5 billion for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund to train and equip the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police;

· A 3.4 percent across-the-board pay increase, including the extension of the stop-loss pay through June 2011;

· $350 million for the Homeowners Assistance Program which provides relief to homeowner service members, wounded warriors, surviving spouses, and defense civilian employees who are relocating due to Base Realignment and Closure or permanent change of station and facing financial loss or foreclosure on their homes;

· Expands TRICARE eligibility – authorizing $27.9 billion for the Defense Health Program, expanding TRICARE benefits for military retirees and requiring the Sec. of Defense to establish a task force to assess the effectiveness of policies and programs geared toward the care of service members;

· Authorizes $6.7 Billion for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund, vehicles that will be deployed to Afghanistan to protect ground troops from improvised explosive devices ;

Sen. Begich also secured funding for several important military projects in Alaska including:

· Littoral Glider Systems, $3M (Anchorage)

· PermaFrost Tunnel, $500,000

· Expandable Rigid Wall Composite Shelters, $1.3M

· Additional monies for drug Interdiction for National Guard Activities, $30M for all states, including Alaska

· Future Tactical Truck Carbon Composite Shelter and Retrofit of Current Vehicle Shelters $2.5M

In addition, military construction for Alaska supported by Senator Begich includes:

· Combat Pistol Range, Fort Richardson, $4.5M

· Airborne Sustainment Training Range Complex, Fort Richardson, $6.1M

· Training Aids Center, Fort Richardson,  $2.05M

· Health Clinic, Fort Richardson, $3.518M

· Warrior in Transition Complex, Fort Richardson, $43M

· Aviation Task Force Complex, Phase 1, Fort Wainwright, $125M

· Aviation Unit Operations Complex, Fort Wainwright, $19M

· Railhead Complex, Fort Wainwright, $26M

· Warrior in Transition Complex, $28M

· Clear AFS, Power Plant Facility, $24.3M

· F-22 Weapons Load Training Facility, Elmendorf Air Force Base, $12.6

· Red Flag Alaska Add/Alter Operations Center, $3.1M

· Aeromedical Services/Mental Health Clinic, Elmendorf Air Force Base, $25.017M

· Arctic Utilidors Phase 11, Eielson Air Force Base, $9.9M

· Taxiway Lighting, Eielson Air Force Base, $3.45M

Just yesterday, three other Begich amendments were approved including two supporting missile defense and one conveying land from the Army to the Chilkoot Indian Association in Haines, Alaska.

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