Congress approves $11.5 million for upgrades at Coast Guard air station
Posted by Jersey Shore Breaking News at Monday, January 14. 2008 and is filed under The Current of Hamilton Township 
The Coast Guard’s National Capitol Region Air Defense Mission, which maintains its primary base of operations at Air Station Atlantic City, is set to receive $11.5 million as part of the omnibus spending bill approved by the Congress in late December.
The funding is in addition to the $66.5 million secured by U.S. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo in the fiscal year 2007 appropriations process for the new mission, it was announced Jan. 9.
“I applaud the men and women of Air Station Atlantic City, whose outstanding service is continually relied upon to protect New Jersey and our nation’s Capitol,” LoBiondo said.
“As I have said before, South Jersey plays a vital, strategic role in our homeland security, and the missions tasked to Air Station Atlantic City underscore that importance. I will continue to support the Coast Guard as they continue to succeed in all that they do.”
Under the mission, the U.S. Coast Guard assists the Air National Guard in the air interdiction mission over Washington, D.C. The federal funding allowed the Coast Guard to acquire seven new HH-65 helicopters – three of which launch from Air Station DC at the Washington-Reagan National Airport. Serving as the primary base of operations, Air Station Atlantic City is home to an additional four helicopters under this continual mission.
The appropriation will complete the construction of additional hangar and office space at Air Station Atlantic City, along with the relocation expenses for more than 70 additional air crews and support personnel to the station. The expansion has made it the nation’s largest helicopter-only Coast Guard station.
Included in the omnibus spending bill is $150,000 for the design of a new Coast Guard boat station in Cape May. The current boat station, more than 50 years old, was never intended to accommodate the electronics and service members needed to carry out the missions USCG Station Cape May is tasked to do. LoBiondo previously secured $100,000 for the project.
“I am pleased that federal funding is available to support the long-needed upgrades to the Cape May Boat Station. It is critical that we ensure not only the success of the Coast Guard’s missions off South Jersey’s coasts, but the safety of their personnel during these missions,” he said.
The funding is in addition to the $66.5 million secured by U.S. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo in the fiscal year 2007 appropriations process for the new mission, it was announced Jan. 9.
“I applaud the men and women of Air Station Atlantic City, whose outstanding service is continually relied upon to protect New Jersey and our nation’s Capitol,” LoBiondo said.
“As I have said before, South Jersey plays a vital, strategic role in our homeland security, and the missions tasked to Air Station Atlantic City underscore that importance. I will continue to support the Coast Guard as they continue to succeed in all that they do.”
Under the mission, the U.S. Coast Guard assists the Air National Guard in the air interdiction mission over Washington, D.C. The federal funding allowed the Coast Guard to acquire seven new HH-65 helicopters – three of which launch from Air Station DC at the Washington-Reagan National Airport. Serving as the primary base of operations, Air Station Atlantic City is home to an additional four helicopters under this continual mission.
The appropriation will complete the construction of additional hangar and office space at Air Station Atlantic City, along with the relocation expenses for more than 70 additional air crews and support personnel to the station. The expansion has made it the nation’s largest helicopter-only Coast Guard station.
Included in the omnibus spending bill is $150,000 for the design of a new Coast Guard boat station in Cape May. The current boat station, more than 50 years old, was never intended to accommodate the electronics and service members needed to carry out the missions USCG Station Cape May is tasked to do. LoBiondo previously secured $100,000 for the project.
“I am pleased that federal funding is available to support the long-needed upgrades to the Cape May Boat Station. It is critical that we ensure not only the success of the Coast Guard’s missions off South Jersey’s coasts, but the safety of their personnel during these missions,” he said.
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