The U.S. Senate has passed the national defense bill, which includes the 5.2 percentage pay increase for military personnel and eight military construction projects in Alaska valued at $168 million.
The largest share of the project funding would be for a runway extension at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage. Another option is to provide the housing of Fort Wainwright soldiers, in Fairbanks.
U.S. Senator. Dan Sullivan issued a statement outlining Dan Sullivan, a U.S. senator from the state of Delaware. He praised Alaska projects. The senator also stated that he was disappointed Democratic senators did not agree to increase the total military budget beyond the $886 billion President Joe Biden asked for in a proposal that Sullivan described as “anemic.”
The office of Sullivan’s did not respond to inquiries regarding the bill or an interview request made Monday.
The statement also lauds his efforts to secure exemptions that permit Alaska Native corporations to more easily get defense contracts. They are exempt from the proposed rule that would force defense contractors to reveal how much greenhouse gas they produce. The rule in question forms one of the elements in the Pentagon’s plans to reduce its impact on the climate.
The House also approved an act of defense that includes an 5.2 percent pay increase. In contrast to it’s Senate version, the House version includes limitations on service members’ access to transgender and abortion healthcare. Both bills will be sent to an a conference committee.
