US Senator Evan Bayh
http://bayh.senate.gov

Congress Approves Funding for Gary National Guard Project

Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senator Evan Bayh, Senator Richard Lugar, Congressman Pete Visclosky, and Governor Joe Kernan today announced that Congress has approved more than $15 million for the Indiana National Guard's Limited Army Aviation Center, putting plans for the facility one step closer to becoming a reality.

Bayh, Lugar and Visclosky secured a total of $15.58 million for the first phase of construction for the facility, which will house the Guard's medical company, weapons of mass destruction civil support team, an air evacuation unit, a meteorological type unit and five Blackhawk helicopters at the Gary/Chicago Airport.

"Construction of a new Limited Army Aviation Center at the GCA is a win-win-win situation," Bayh said. "This facility will enhance the readiness of our men and women in uniform and provide an expanded homeland security role for the Guard in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago metro region. On top of this, the program will create nearly two-hundred and fifty jobs for area Hoosiers. Today's announcement is a major step forward for the region, and would not have been possible without the help of Senator Lugar, Congressman Visclosky and Governor Kernan."

"This is a major coup for Northwest Indiana," Visclosky said. "Not only will this funding help bolster homeland security in our region, but it will also provide jobs and economic opportunities for Northwest Indiana residents. I'd like to give special thanks to Senator Bayh for getting the ball rolling on this in the Senate. I also appreciate all the hard work and support of Governor Kernan and Senator Lugar, and I will continue to work together with all of them to see this project through."

"This is a big victory for Indiana, especially for Northwest Indiana and the Gary/ Chicago Regional Airport," said Lugar. "This is important federal defense funding for our Guard activities. This was a combined federal and state effort and I commend Congressman Visclosky, Senator Bayh and Governor Kernan for the unified effort on this important project."

"The location of these units at Gary will provide a powerful deterrent to terrorism throughout the entire Chicago/ Northwest Indiana metropolitan area," Kernan said. "The State of Indiana fully supports this effort, and I congratulate Senators Lugar and Bayh and Congressman Visclosky for securing this funding. I will work together with them to make this a reality."

The Indiana Army National Guard plans to construct a new Armed Forces Reserve Center and a Limited Army Aviation Support Facility at the Gary-Chicago Airport located in Gary, Indiana. At 91,000 square feet, the new facilities will alleviate the inadequacies of the facilities where the four units are currently stationed.

Positioning these four units in Northern Indiana also provides a heavily populated area with additional security that could have a great impact on Homeland Security if needed in an emergency. The stationing plan provides for a Weapons of Mass Destruction team, a medical unit, an air evacuation unit, and a meteorological-type unit to be available immediately if necessary. The new facility will also provide proper classroom, storage, maintenance, shower/locker and administrative areas.