House approves critical funding for Joe Foss Field, Sioux Falls projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives recently passed a passed a consolidated or “omnibus” appropriations bill that includes funding requested by Rep. Herseth Sandlin for the South Dakota Air Guard at Joe Foss Field and critical priorities in Sioux Falls. The funding package, which passed with Rep. Herseth Sandlin’s support, combined six appropriations bills that Congress must pass to fund government operations and agencies for Fiscal Year 2010 including Transportation-HUD; Labor-HHS-Education; Commerce-Justice-Science; Military Construction-Veterans Affairs; Financial Services; and State-Foreign Operations.

"Funding for these priorities will help meet the Sioux Falls Community continue to grow, thrive and ensure the safety of its citizens," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "In addition, improvements at Joe Foss Field will ensure our men and women have the best training and facilities to prepare them for missions abroad. I'm proud to lend my name to these important projects and I'm hopeful the President will soon sign them into law."

Funding for Sioux Falls requested by Rep. Herseth Sandlin included in the final package:

· $1.3 million, Add to Munitions Maintenance Complex, Joe Foss Field

o This appropriation will benefit the munitions storage area at Joe Foss Field, which is currently undersized and inadequate. It is 16% short of the minimum required space and lacks adequate space for two authorized missile bays, 20 MM gun ammunition storage, a practice chaff/flares buildup area, and a paint bay. There is also insufficient pavement to park the munitions trailers. The munitions storage area is located approximately two miles from the base and does not have a loading dock for loading/unloading munitions from trucks. Munitions maintenance personnel continue to experience overcrowding, and the lack of quality work and storage space directly impacts training and actual munitions maintenance.

· $1.3 million, Above Ground Multi-Cubicle Magazine Storage, Joe Foss Field

o The base requires an adequately-sized and properly-configured multi-cubicle magazine storage area in support of its F-16 aircraft. This storage area is undersized by 64%. The above ground magazine storage building does not have sufficient space to store either the required combined storage munitions, rockets and training missile storage. These items are currently stored in another building or are not kept in sufficient required inventory. The base will continue to lack the required quantity of munitions on-hand due to the shortage of storage space. This reduces the ability of the 114th Fighter Wing to meet its training requirements to maintain weapons proficiency.

· $1.461 million, Road Improvements from 57th Street North to 1000 ft South of 26th Street, Sioux Falls

o This six-lane divided highway in our state's largest city, Sioux Falls, will alleviate congestion on existing state highways and local roads. The east side of Sioux Falls is truly poised for excellent growth and development; however, this transportation corridor is needed to make it happen. Total project length is 18 miles. To date about one mile has been constructed. This funding will help build one additional mile.

· $340,900, Construction of a facility to house chronically homeless persons, Minnehaha County

o Funding would support construction of Project Safe Home, a 32 unit Housing First project that will provide permanent housing to chronically homeless individuals with severe alcohol addictions. As the first barrier-free, Housing First program for chronically addicted individuals in South Dakota, Project Safe Home would help care for the indigent poor.

· $300,000, Avera Reaching Kids Initiative, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center

o These funds will be used for programming costs for the Avera Reaching Kids Initiative, which, in partnership with the Sioux Falls Public School District, will shift treatment methods for children’s emotional and behavioral disorders. Avera proposes a family-based approach that brings the treatment from the clinic to the community, integrates prevention with intervention, and delivers treatment to families.