Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) was pleased to announce today that the Department of Defense has included $19 million in their Fiscal Year 2004 budget amendment to complete the revitalization and renovation of McChord Air Force Base’s Mission Support Center (Building 100).  Smith is committed to making sure these funds are authorized and appropriated.

“This is a very exciting indication that the Defense Department recognizes the crucial role that McChord plays in the defense of our country and our ability to project power overseas,” Smith said.  “In recent military operations, airlift capabilities proved critical; this project enhances McChord’s ability to serve that key role. I’ve argued for years that we need to modernize our military and invest in tomorrow's technology, to ensure that America's fighting men and women have the tools and equipment they need to fulfill their missions.  Today’s announcement means that McChord will be better prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow and meet the tasks we ask of them – we’re giving them the tools they need to support missions and win.”

Many of McChord AFB's vital mission and community support activities, including the Mission Support Center which serves as the hub of all McChord AFB mission support activities, are in substandard, uneconomical and non-upgradeable WWII or Korean War wood frame facilities that were originally constructed as barracks. 

This project revitalizes 247,000 square feet of space, creates a consolidated customer service center, improves the quality of the workspace for more than 650 personnel and will modernize the facility's structural (seismic), electrical, water, sewer, communications and HVAC systems. 

Smith has worked with McChord on this much-needed project since coming to Congress in 1996.  In Fiscal Year 2002, he was able to get $15.8 million appropriated for Phase I of this project.  Today’s language inclusion will enable McChord to complete the project.

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today extended his congratulations to Loren Willson of Sumner High School for being selected by a distinguished panel of judges as a Semi-Finalist in the 2003 National Council on Economic Education/Nasdaq National Teaching Awards competition.  These awards are given to high school teachers for excellence and innovation in incorporating economic education into any subject area.

“Knowledge of fundamental economics and finance has never been more important than in today’s complex world economy,” Smith remarked.  “This award recognizes Loren Willson’s originality, creativity and effectiveness in the teaching of economics and finance, and both she and Sumner High School should take considerable pride in this accomplishment.” 

Created through a grant of the Nasdaq Educational Foundation to NCEE, the NCEE/Nasdaq National Teaching Awards are among the largest in the field of education.  Each year, the Grand National Award Winner, chosen from among five regional winners receives cash awards totaling $25,000.  The four remaining Regional Winners receive $10,000 each, while 20 Regional Semi-Finalists receive individual awards of $1,000.  The winners were chosen from among applications submitted by teachers in more than 40 states.

NCEE is a non-profit organization that for more than 50 years has been helping students in grades Kindergarten through 12 develop economic ways of thinking and problem solving to prepare them to function effectively in the global economy.  Through a nationwide network of State Councils and 250 university-based Centers for Economic Education, NCEE administers programs that each year reach approximately 120,000 teachers and over 7 million students in more than 70,000 schools.