The House version of the 2008 military construction appropriations bill contains $100 million to fund construction to turn McGuire Air Force Base, Ft. Dix, and NAS Lakehurst in New Jersey into the BRAC 2005-proposed megabase. “This is the most appropriated funding we’ve ever seen for Ft. Dix and McGuire Air Force Base,” says Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) in a statement. He continued, “The impact on the South Jersey economy will be felt for years.”
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.