Luria Urges Congress to Fund Infrastructure Projects in Military Communities

WASHINGTON – Representative Elaine Luria, D-Va., is leading a bipartisan effort urging the leadership of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to fund $100 million in needed infrastructure projects in military communities.

Luria and more than a dozen of her colleagues want to see the projects, collectively known as the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, included in the Fiscal Year 2020 Conference Report for the National Defense Authorization Act.

Congress created the infrastructure program last year. In practice, it is supposed to provide grants to assist state and local governments in addressing deficiencies in community infrastructure projects.

However, no funds have ever been appropriated for it.

In a letter to Sens. James Inhofe, chairman, and Jack Reed, ranking member, of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Reps. Adam Smith, chairman, and Mac Thornberry, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee,  Luria and her co-signers called DCIP “a long-overdue investment in our nation’s defense infrastructure that will support readiness and family welfare.”

The grants would be used for projects outside of military installations, but that support military installations. Such projects include transportation development to ease traffic congestion and upgrades to schools, hospitals, utilities, and more.

Luria’s congressional district is home to eight military installations covering all branches, and they are an integral part of our community. The grant would help improve infrastructure in Hampton Roads and enhance readiness in the region, she said.

“As a Navy veteran representing Hampton Roads, I know America’s military communities desperately need funding for infrastructure projects to promote readiness,” Congresswoman Luria continued. “The Defense Community Infrastructure Program amounts to a critical investment for our country. These projects are vitally important to the strength of our national security infrastructure, as well as the welfare of our servicemembers and their families.”

In addition to Luria, the letter was signed by Representatives Bobby Scott, of Virginia; Paul Cook, of California; T.J. Cox, of California; Joe Cunningham, of South Carolina; Ruben Gallego, of Arizona; Denny Heck, of Washington;  Katie Hill, of California; Will Hurd, of Texas; Ann Kirkpatrick, of Arizona; Richard Neal, of Massachusetts; Christopher Smith, of New Jersey; and Steve Watkins, of Kansas.