Sen. Mark Begich worked to preserve the funding in the 2010 National Defense Act bill on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The bill is expected to be considered by the Senate in July, and move to conference with the House of Representatives thereafter.

The funding includes $30 million for counter-drug operations for National Guard activities, as well as multiple construction projects at Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base.

Fort Richardson projects include $5 million for a combat pistol range, $6 million for an airborne sustainment training range complex, $2 million for a training aides center, $3.5 million for a health clinic and $43 million for a Warrior in Transition complex.

Elmendorf projects include a $12.6 million F-22 weapons load training facility and a $25 million aeromedical services/mental health clinic.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, July 2, 2009.