SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE FORT DRUM RECEIVES NEARLY $10 MILLION IN OMNIBUS SPENDING PACKAGE TO MAKE CRITICAL SECURITY UPDATES AND MOVE FORWARD ON STATE-OF-THE-ART COMBAT PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTING FACILITY

Senators Fiercely Advocated For Funding To Be Included In Omnibus Spending Package To Ensure Fort Drum Achieves Peak Mission Readiness

Schumer, Gillibrand: Investing In Fort Drum Is Investing In Future Of The North Country & Our National Defense 

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that following their staunch advocacy for the soldiers and families of Fort Drum, the senators have secured nearly $10 million for two major Fort Drum projects in the end-of-year spending package for FY2023.

The first is over $3 million to begin the planning and design of a new, modern physical fitness testing facility field house. The second will use $6.8 million to modernize and upgrade the Access Control Point (ACP) at Fort Drum, ensuring the security of those working on the base. The senators said that jointly these projects would help ensure the long-term stability and vitality of Fort Drum for years to come.

“Fort Drum is woven in the very fabric of the North Country and essential to our national defense. Our soldiers and those on the base deserve only the best when it comes to security and facilities that support their legendary readiness, that is why I am proud to deliver funding for these two critical projects to keep the base secure and thriving,” said Senator Schumer. “This funding means bolstering both the physical health and wellbeing of our soldiers as they train and prepare for deployment. I will always fight to make sure our Fort Drum soldiers have what they need to be mission ready and defend our country.”

“Fort Drum is one of the most strategically important bases in the country and a cornerstone of the North Country community. This $10 million investment will help ensure soldiers at the base have what they need to stay safe, healthy, and ready for deployment,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m proud to have fought to secure this funding and I’ll keep fighting to provide Fort Drum personnel with the resources they need to serve our country.”

The senators explained that the new $6.8 million Access Control Point Alley Modernization project will drastically improve perimeter security at Fort Drum. Fort Drum is currently randomly inspecting privately owned vehicles and commercial trucks in the inbound lanes at the ID Check Areas, and the GSA Military Police vehicle located at the ACP has no way of stopping a breaching vehicle from entering the base should a situation arise. This project supports the modernization of a non-standard design ACP by improving the existing aging concrete inbound and outbound lanes, and extending the response Zone to meet the required response distance from the ID Check Area to the active vehicle barrier system.

In addition, over $3 million will go directly to the planning and design of a new physical fitness testing facility for soldiers to take the Army Combat Physical Fitness Test. This is integral to fulfilling the new test requirement announced by the US Army Center for Initial Military Training. Schumer and Gillibrand said this long overdue investment will ensure Fort Drum is at peak readiness for emergency deployment and able to support the thousands of families there for generations to come.

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