$350,000 Slated for Army Heritage Center in Carlisle

Appropriations legislation earmarks funding for projects championed by Congressman Platts

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Todd Platts announced that the FY 2002 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (H.R. 3061) includes $350,000 for the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) at the Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle. Platts actively worked with Appropriations Sub-Committee Chairman Ralph Regula to ensure inclusion of these funds in the appropriations bill. H.R. 3061 passed the House on Wednesday, December 19 by a vote of 393-30 and is scheduled for final consideration before the Senate today.

The AHEC is a 5-year, $110 million project. On a 55-acre tract of land, the AHEC will be a combination of the Army's Military History Institute, a major comprehensive Army museum, and an Education Center.

"Funding for these projects at the AHEC was one of my top priorities during the 2002 fiscal year appropriations process. The Army Heritage Center, including its planned Education Center and the Military History Institute, will provide invaluable services to school children and their teachers, as well as military scholars and historians from throughout our Nation and the world," said Congressman Platts. "These projects will enable children to gain a superior understanding of the rich military and social history surrounding the United States Army and will improve access to the Military History Institute's extensive repository of original documents, letters, maps, and photographs."

The appropriated funds are designated for the following project areas:

The Army Heritage Education Center receives $150,000 to establish educational programs for elementary and secondary school students to provide them with the best understanding of U.S. Army history available to students. The funding will also be used to establish the technology and infrastructure needed to expand the education programs to school students across the nation and throughout the world. An additional $25,000 is earmarked for the development of the Educational Center.

The Military History Institute (the US Army's largest repository of original historical documents, letters, publications, and photographs) receives $175,000 to provide joint research and teaching opportunities in military and social history. This project will improve access to the materials housed in the Military History Institute.

The work for the AHEC is split into four phases. They include:

Phase 1 - the building of a new state-of-the-art home for the Military History Institute.

Phase 2 - the building of an Education Center that will be the hub of the complex and will provide a general orientation area for the AHEC.

Phases 3 and 4 - the construction of an Army Heritage Museum which will tell the comprehensive story of the United States Army from colonial times through the present. The Army's history will parallel the nation's history, and will highlight the impact the U.S. Army has had on the nation in times of peace and war.

To date, other funding for the project has included a donation of 55 acres of land from Cumberland County, a release of $5 million in capital funds from Governor Ridge, and a $21 million appropriation from the Pennsylvania legislature for capitol project matching funds. In addition, funding for the construction of the Military History Institute's new facility was included in the U.S. Army's 2001 Military Construction Appropriation, and construction is scheduled to begin in early 2002. The Museum and Education Center will be funded mostly through private donations and grants.

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