U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) has secured $6.16 million for a new academic fire instructional facility at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in the Military Construction and Veterans Administration appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2009, which passed the House today by a vote of 409 to 4.

“A new, permanent fire instructional facility will help servicemen and women at NAS Whidbey train to fight fires and be ready for any contingency,” said Larsen. “I will continue working in Congress to support the men and women serving at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Station Everett.  I will continue working to ensure that they have the resources they need to do their jobs.”

The $6.16 million for NAS Whidbey would be used to replace the current, temporary facilities with a new, permanent 4,600 square-foot academic fire instructional facility. Any crew member who deploys from NAS Whidbey must be trained to put out fires on aircraft.
The funding bill also includes an 11 percent increase in funding for the Veterans Administration, including $3.8 billion in funding for mental health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury care.

The legislation increases gas mileage reimbursement rates for veterans traveling to get health care at a VA facility from 28.5 to 41.5 cents per mile. Larsen has worked for years to increase mileage reimbursements rates, and in 2006 introduced the Rural Veterans Transportation Act to help rural veterans get the care they need.

The legislation passed by the House today has been endorsed by major veterans’ organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and AMVETS.