June 6, 1997 - Ninth district Congressman Adam Smith's request to accelerate funding to construct new health care facilities at McChord Air Force base and Fort Lewis Army base was approved by the Subcommittee on Military Facilities and Installations today.

Smith urged his colleagues' support of several projects at Fort Lewis and McChord, including the health care facilities. "Both McChord and Fort Lewis have a number of construction and maintenance needs," said Smith. "I am encouraged by the subcommittee's support of these two very important projects."

Ninth district facilities are slated to receive $8.1 million. Under the bill, Fort Lewis will receive $5 million to fund a brand-new Troop Medical and Dental Clinic to provide primary care, physical therapy, dentistry, optometry, and pharmaceutical services. McChord Air Force Base will receive $3.1 million for construction of a new Medical Training Facility, which will be used by the Reserve Medical Group, the Aeromedical Patient Staging Squadron (ASTS) and Medical Squadron, thereby maximizing the training time of Air Force Reserve personnel. Physicals, eye exams, hearing exams, lab tests and other primary training in support of over 3,000 reservists will take place at the new facility.

"Health care facilities are critical to military personnel and their families," said Smith. 
"We've got to improve the quality of life for the men and women defending our country, and top- notch health care facilities are a must."

"Furthermore, the current facilities are terribly outdated," Smith went on to say. "We need to get these new facilities built."

This legislation is part of the overall National Security Authorization Bill. The full House National Security Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill June 11. If it is approved, it will move to the floor of the House of Representatives.