Fort Bragg to receive more than $84.5M in defense budget. Here’s what it’s going toward.

Rachael Riley, The Fayetteville Observer
·4 min read
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Fort Bragg will receive more than $84.5 million for construction projects in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
Fort Bragg will receive more than $84.5 million for construction projects in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

Fort Bragg will receive more than $84.5 million to go toward construction projects including a new gun range, Special Forces buildings and a child care center, according to the 2023 defense budget.

The $816.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act, which outlines defense spending and policy changes, was signed Dec. 23 by President Joe Biden.

A news release from Republican Rep. Richard Hudson, whose district includes Fort Bragg, said that Hudson worked to secure several provisions in the budget including construction projects at Fort Bragg, ending the COVID-19 vaccine mandate and increased support for troops and families.

More:COVID-19 vaccine no longer a mandate for military. What that means for Fort Bragg

“This defense bill provides needed investments for Fort Bragg and military families, while also ensuring our military is free of needless measures that undermine recruitment, readiness and the freedoms of our military service members," Hudson said.

Military construction

Construction projects for Fort Bragg include:

• $34 million for a multipurpose training range;

• $18.8 million for a special operation forces operations building;

• $15.6 million for special operation forces supply support activity;

• $7.5 million for an addition to Albritton Middle School;

• $3.6 million for a child development center;

• $2 million for an automated record fire range;

• $1.6 million for a multipurpose gun range; and

• $1.35 million for an automated infantry platoon battle course.

More:The Army is asking for a new $34M gun range at Fort Bragg; here's why

More:There's a shortage of childcare on Fort Bragg. What is the Army doing about it?

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a news release that a top priority is ensuring that Fort Bragg and North Carolina’s other military installations “continue to play a crucial role in protecting the United States against threats all across the world,” and ensuring they have the resources they need to protect the nation is a priority.

“This bipartisan legislation is a big win for North Carolina’s servicemembers and our military families,” Tillis said.

Tillis
Tillis

Provisions for service members and families

Hudson and Tillis said the budget also includes a 4.6% pay increase for service members, and Hudson said $500 million is for additional housing allowances “to counteract the skyrocketing cost of rent on military families.”

Hudson said the budget also expands eligibility for the basic needs allowance for low-income servicemembers supporting a family.

Hudson and Tillis said the act authorizes $50 million for Impact Aid assistance to local schools with military-dependent students, including $20 million to offset the costs of servicemember children with severe disabilities.

Other priorities in the act, Hudson said, are expanding access to mental health services and suicide prevention programs for servicemembers, and support for sexual assault prevention.

Hudson said the act builds on a bill he co-sponsored last year that requires independently trained investigators outside of the immediate chain of command to investigate claims of sexual harassment and places sexual harassment and other offenses under the jurisdiction of the special trial counsel.

More:Secretary of defense, Congress seek to remove sexual assault cases from chain of command

Provisions for families, Hudson said, include permanently authorizing reimbursement of spouse professional relicensing fees due to servicemember change of station;

  • Extending authority to offer military families childcare discounts at DOD childcare facilities.

  • Reinforcing that parents with children attending Department of Defense Education Activity schools can review curriculum, instructional materials, and disciplinary policies.

  • Requiring an independent analysis of TRICARE’s Autism Care Demonstration Program. Tillis said the act also authorizes a pilot program for hiring special education inclusion coordinators in child development centers to ensure services are provided to children with special needs.

More:'This brick wall': Fort Bragg military families, schools feeling impacts of TRICARE autism cut

Hudson also supported a provision in the act that requires the Department of Defense, State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development Inspector Generals to regularly carry out comprehensive reviews and audits of assistance provided to Ukraine.

Tillis said other priorities include:

• Requiring the DOD to establish the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative to improve cognitive performance and brain health of servicemembers.

• Authorizing the DOD to pay relocation and quarantine costs for pets during military moves.

• Authorizing a survivor benefit plan open season for the first time since 2005.

• Improvements to the TRICARE Dental Program, including improving specialty care referrals under TRICARE Prime during permanent changes of station.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: How $84.5 million will be spent at Fort Bragg