Congressional action on military appropriations bills Tuesday brought the promise of an economic boost to Calhoun County that could warm many Christmas hearths.
Conference Committee members from both the House and Senate approved four multi-million dollar appropriations for local defense programs and a $17 million supplemental appropriation for the Center for Domestic Preparedness at McClellan.
The defense appropriations bill will bring more than $650 million to the Calhoun County area for various area defense programs and contracts.
It will be the largest federal appropriation the area has received since the Anniston Army Depot received a $1 billion contract early this year to build a light armored vehicle.
Tuesday's appropriations bills still require approval of the full House and Senate and the president's signature. Andrea Andrews, a spokeswoman for Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, said that final approval will probably happen in the next couple of days.
They include funding for the Center for Domestic Preparedness, which will receive a total of $35.716 million from Congress this year.
Congress approved $18.716 million for the center in November, but Shelby and fellow Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Mobile) wanted more funding for the center so it can provide 10,000 first responders per year with weapons-of-mass-destruction training.
"It's basically a done deal," local consultant Duane Higgins said of the bill. "If the language is in there, it's almost a formality that the report comes back to the Senate and House. Most of the time, it's voted up and it goes for the president's signature."
Other defense appropriations for Calhoun County include:
· $477.6 million for the M1 Abrams tank upgrade and tank modification program at the Anniston Army Depot.
· $136.7 million for procurement of Hydra 70 rockets that are produced in the Anniston area.
· $48.6 million for additional vehicle upgrades to the M113 carrier, a tracked vehicle used by the Army.
· $1 million to establish a Missile Recycling Center of Excellence at the depot.
Shelby, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he was pleased with the committee's funding for Calhoun County's defense programs.
"They are critical to the stability of our nation's military infrastructure and readiness," Shelby said. "Today's approval demonstrates our commitment to national security.
The defense appropriations bill also includes an amendment related to the Chemical Demilitarization Program and the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program authored by Shelby.
The amendment requires a majority of four government officials to sign off on the incineration of the chemical weapons stockpile at Anniston Army Depot before incineration can begin. The group includes the governor of Alabama, the Calhoun County Commission chairman, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions, Technology and Logistics.
Army officials are scheduled to begin burning its stockpile of blister and nerve agents in 2002.
"As the start date for operations draws near, it is time for the federal, state and local agencies involved to report on their progress to ensure that every safety measure has been addressed to protect the Anniston and surrounding communities before this facility becomes operational," Shelby said.
