(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray
(D-WA), a senior member of the Military Construction Appropriations
Subcommittee, announced that she has been able to steer $4.85 million in
federal military construction funding back to Spokane to help build a new
quality control facility at Fairchild Air Force Base. The funding would
construct a state-of-the-art Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory (PMEL)
at Fairchild to replace and outdated and deteriorating facility.
“This funding will support one of the least noticed
but most important jobs at Fairchild,” said Senator Murray. “This
funding will help to test and retest the equipment our service members rely on
to keep themselves and all of us safe.”
The current PMEL is located in a wood-framed, deteriorated
building built in 1943 where it is difficult to maintain the laboratory
conditions necessary to perform delicate calibrations and repairs to sensitive
equipment. This facility also suffers from failing roofing, heating,
plumbing and lighting systems. It is also in close proximity to a Command Post
with multiple antennas, which generates interference from electromagnetic and
radio frequency signals.
“Second rate facilities won’t cut it and we can’t wait
for bureaucrats in Washington D.C. to finally respond to the needs of service
members in our own backyard,” Murray said. “I’m proud to fight
for a new facility that will allow our service members to have accurate and
reliable equipment.”
The funding, first announced today by Senator Murray, is now
included in the Fiscal Year 2011 Military Construction Appropriations Bill. The
funding was requested by Fairchild leadership and will fully fund construction
of the new PMEL. The funding was passed through the full Senate Military
Construction Appropriations Committee today.
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