Ander Crenshaw: Military Construction and VA Bill Will Help First Coast

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw insisted on Wednesday that the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MILCON) Appropriations Bill (HR 2216) will benefit the First Coast. Crenshaw, who serves on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, joined 420 other congressmen in passing the bill on Tuesday.

No matter where they serve, there is no higher priority than making sure our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to protect our freedom, said Crenshaw on Wednesday. Northeast Florida military installations play a central role in that national security mission and deserve the support that the fiscal year 2014 Military Construction Bill provides.

Construction of a Littoral Combat Ship Logistics Support facility at Naval Station Mayport, expansion of the P-8 training and parking apron at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and the replacement of a fuel pipeline in Jacksonville will help keep our forces strong now and in years to come, Crenshaw added. Equally important, the MILCON bill funds veterans benefits and programs to ensure that all veterans have the programs they have earned through their service to a grateful nation. The bill takes strides to help address a heavy backlog of VA disability claims by streamlining operations to ensure that our veterans are getting their benefits in a timely and appropriate manner.