Bill would fund new fire, rescue station for NAS

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Nov. 6, 2003
Good news came Wednesday for Naval Air Station Meridian as another hurdle was cleared toward the base receiving money to build a new fire and rescue station.
Senate-House conferees approved the Military Construction Appropriations conference report that targets more than $43 million in military construction projects for Mississippi, including $4.6 million for NAS Meridian.
If the Senate and House approve the conference report, the bill will go to President Bush to be signed.
Lamar McDonald, chairman of the Navy Meridian Team, said a new fire and rescue station at the base has been a priority for the U.S. Navy for a long time and that any improvements at the base will improve chances that the local base will be spared from a round of military base closures expected in 2005.
McDonald and Bill Johnson, president of the Meridian Area Navy League, both said any improvements to the base are positives for the base's future.
McDonald said his group appreciates the continued help and support for the base from U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, and U.S. Sens. Trent Lott and Thad Cochran.
He also said Gov.-elect Haley Barbour is expected to be a big help in keeping NAS Meridian safe from the next base realignment and closure round known as BRAC.
Sen. Cochran is a senior member of the Military Construction Appropriations committee.
The following Mississippi projects are also included in the fiscal year 2004 Military Construction Appropriations bill:
In October officials announced that a regional counter drug training academy at NAS Meridian will receive $4.2 million under the 2004 defense appropriation bill. The bill also included: $3.6 million for the F/A -22 Raptor aircraft, parts of which are built at Lockheed Martin in Meridian; and $296 million for the C-130J aircraft, which Lockheed Martin also helps to produce.