House bill would benefit HAFB

By Suzanne Struglinski
Deseret Morning News
Published: Friday, May 12, 2006 3:39 p.m. MDT
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WASHINGTON — The House approved the first version of the Defense Authorization report Thursday, which contains several provisions benefiting Hill Air Force Base.

One provision would require the Air Force to reinvest 6 percent of its depot revenue back into depot capitalization in equipment, infrastructure and training, according to Rep. Rob Bishop's office.

The Utah Republican said the reinvestment would keep the Air Force depots on the cutting edge of industrial process so that they do not fall behind the private sector in fixing war fighters.

This guarantee of reinvestment will directly benefit the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, according to Bishop's office.

Utah military construction projects could receive up to $87.5 million, including $25 million for the F-22 Composite Test Facility at Hill Air Force Base as well as $20 million for a Software Support Facility Addition and $14.4 million for the Michael Airfield at the Dugway Proving Ground.

Bishop also included $6 million for the Science Engineering Lab Data Integration (SELDI) Program at the Ogden ALC. This integrates data and lab results to provide better maintenance and improvements to missile and aircraft readiness.

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The Senate needs to pass its own version of the bill and then lawmakers from both chambers will negotiate a final bill that would need to be approved again before going to the president for his signature.

The authorization bill gives Congress permission to spend money on certain projects but the Defense Appropriations bill actually puts a certain amount of money toward a project. The two amounts do not always match.

E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com

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