Congress approved the $886 billion defense bill Thursday, and then delivered it to President Biden to sign. The legislation calls for greater than 200 million dollars in funds for construction projects on Alaska military bases, as well as an increase in the pay of soldiers.
In 2024, the National Defense Authorization Act calls for the design and planning process for future construction projects at Alaska military facilities that Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Office has said that will supply military personnel within Alaska the benefit of “state-of-the-art equipment.”
The bill authorizes the funding of construction projects for military that are currently under going in the state, or in the process of starting. Murkowski’s office said the biggest of those line items include $107.5 million for extending a runway at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, $34 million for completing a Fort Wainwright housing project, $9.5 million for a new dormitory at Eielson Air Force Base, and $6.1 million for a precision guided-missile complex at JBER.
The NDAA also proposes around thirty billion of missile defense funds for fiscal year 2024. with around $11 billion allocated to the Missile Defense Agency, which is the operator of a base located at Fort Greely. This funding will allow the agency to finish work necessary to build 64 ground-based Interceptor missiles, the majority are located based at Greely.
An official Defense Department document states that the agency is expected to finish testing an advanced radar defense facility located at Clear Space Force Station in the next year. The document states that the Long-Range Discrimination radar will be then transferred into Space Force. Space Force.
The NDAA also provides for an 5.2 percentage pay rise for military personnel, as well as other measures for improving quality of life, including increases in the allowance, which helps pay for food and other essentials for families with military.
According to the office of Murkowski the law calls for a better relationship to the local Alaska Native and American Indian organizations through the appointment of tribal liaisons to meet and coordinate with these groups.
