Rapid City, SD—U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today helped break ground on the Joint Forces Headquarters and open the new Welcome Center at the South Dakota National Guard Campus in Rapid City. As Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Administration (VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, Johnson secured $29 million in funding for the headquarters during the 2009 appropriations process.
“I am delighted to be on hand to not only cut the ribbon for a new Welcome Center, but also to break ground on a $29 million Joint Forces Headquarters at Camp Rapid. A portion of the headquarters were originally built in the 1930s, and these improvements are long overdue,” said Johnson.
As Chairman of the Military Construction/VA Appropriations Subcommittee, Johnson is a strong supporter of the National Guard and has brought home important funding for local projects. As part of the Military Construction/VA Appropriations bill last year, Johnson secured the $29 million in funding for the Joint Forces Headquarters Readiness Center that made today’s event possible.
“As Chairman, I have worked hard to fund the construction needs of the Guard and Reserves in our state and across the nation, while also delivering on the benefits our soldiers have earned. I look forward to continuing to deliver for our servicemembers as the appropriations process moves forward in Washington,” continued Johnson.
Johnson was joined at the event by Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), Col. Kit Cline, Rapid City Mayor Alan Hanks and South Dakota Guard Adjutant General Stephen Doohen.
Today’s visit is one of multiple stops Johnsons will make during this Congressional District Work Period. In the coming days, Johnson will also travel to Sioux Falls and Aberdeen to discuss his commitment to making affordable health care available for more people in the state and across the country.
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For more information on Senator Tim Johnson visit his website at http://johnson.senate.gov.
To contact Senator Johnson’s communications office via e-mail, write his Communications Director at Julianne_Fisher@Johnson.Senate.gov or his Deputy Communications Director at Jeff_Gohringer@Johnson.Senate.gov.
