Washington, DC  -  Congressman Mike Rogers announced this morning President Bush has included $23.6 million for the construction of a new powertrain maintenance facility at the Anniston Army Depot in his FY 2005 budget proposal. The funding, which originally appeared in FY 2007, was moved forward at Rogers’ request.

The funding compliments $1 million Rogers secured for the facility in late 2003. While the president’s budget is only a proposal and will be subject to close Congressional scrutiny in times of tight budgets, Rogers said accelerating the project a full two years is a very good accomplishment.

“I deeply appreciate President Bush for his steadfast support for this vital defense project,” Rogers said. “I am pleased to see the growing support for the Anniston Army Depot in Washington, and look forward to working with Senators Shelby and Sessions and my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to ensure that funding for this and other Third District military installations continues to grow during this year’s budget process.”

In December, Rogers sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Joshua B. Bolton requesting accelerated funding for the project. The construction funding accompanies a $1 million defense earmark Rogers secured in this year’s military construction bill, bringing the Depot’s total projected new funding to nearly $25 million in just six months.

“If passed into law, the upside of this facility is unlimited. Most importantly, it will help strengthen America’s national security readiness, and equally important, will help grow jobs of the 21st century in Northeast Alabama,” Rogers went on to say. He also said while he was delighted at the Administration’s budget for the project, local leaders would still need to help him fight for its full Congressional funding this year.