WASHINGTONA signature from President Bush is all that stands between the Anniston Army Depot and $5.15 million.
The money for the depot is included in the military construction bill's $108 million for Alabama projects.
There is no doubt in Alabama's Sen. Jeff Sessions' mind that the president will sign it into law.
"There have been a number of steps in this process, but we passed a bill that President Bush will sign, and all of these items will be funded," Sessions said.
The Senate passed the bill Thursday, a day after the House passed it and less than a month after it first emerged from the Senate Appropriations Committee. Originally the Senate and House passed different versions, but the final bill that emerged from a conference committee has received strong support on Capitol Hill.
Since the president is out of the country, the soonest it could be signed into law is early next week.
"This legislation reflects my strong commitment to seeing that Alabama's military facilities continue to remain in the forefront of America's defense," Sessions said.
Some $5.15 million will fund two projects at the depot - a $2.3 million component maintenance facility and a $2.85 million rebuild shop and facility.
The maintenance facility funding will enable the building of a new facility housing many of the smaller shops around the base to increase efficiency, according to an earlier Star report.
The rebuild shop funding will furnish a new ventilation system to capture and remove fumes in the rebuild shop and facility. Fans are used now to clear the dust generated from welding, cutting and engine exhaust in a building used for the disassembly and reassembly of combat vehicles.
Alabama's Sen. Richard Shelby and Rep. Bob Riley also said earlier that such signs of assurance from the House and Senate indicate that the depot has a strong defense against future rounds of base closings.
The Senate voted for more closings in a separate military bill recently. The House did not include any such provision in its version of the bill, and the issue is now being resolved in a conference committee.
"These funds represent our continuing commitment to our nation's security and to the men and women who serve our country," Shelby said.
