$85 million earmarked for military projects

Friday, May 27, 2005 | 11:01 a.m.

SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- The House has earmarked $85.5 million for Nevada military projects as part of its annual bill to authorize military construction spending. The Senate has not acted on its version of the bill.

As expected, the legislation also includes $199 million for construction of a new $295-million veterans hospital complex in North Las Vegas. Officials aim to complete the complex, which would include a 90-bed hospital, 120-bed nursing home and an outpatient clinic, in 2009.

The Defense money includes $60.6 million for expansion of the Predator drone operation at the Air Force's Indian Springs Auxiliary Field. The Air Force is expanding the role of its MQ-1 Predator squadron at the field, 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Air Force officials in March announced that the field will serve as a new center for coordination and tactics development of the unmanned, remote-piloted drones that have served in Iraq.

The bill also includes $19.5 million for two building projects for the F/A-22 jet program at Nellis Air Force Base. The F/A-22 "Raptor" next-generation fighter has been tested at Nellis since January 2003. While the Pentagon has proposed cuts in the overall Raptor program, Nellis' role is still expected to expand. The base is scheduled to have 17 of the stealth-technology planes stationed there in the next five years, up from a current seven.

The Defense bill also sets aside $3.7 million for the first phase of an airfield rescue station at Nellis, and $1.7 million to replace a biological environmental engineering facility at the base.