WASHINGTON — U.S. Strategic Command would see a fresh wave of $161 million in funding for construction of its new headquarters under the budget proposal President Barack Obama released Monday.
It's still not clear, however, exactly when the bulldozers will be ready to roll.
The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is in charge of the construction project and is still in the process of selecting a contractor.
Corps spokeswoman Maggie Oldham told The World-Herald on Monday that the agency is reviewing proposals it received from contractors last year.
"We're evaluating them right now to determine the best value for the government," she said.
Oldham said there is no timeline for selecting a contractor or starting construction.
StratCom hopes that ground will be broken this year and that it can move into its new home by 2016.
The president's previous budget put the cost of the new building at $564 million, with the equipment inside expected to run the project's total up significantly higher.
Presidential budget proposals are always partly political wish lists — it's up to Congress to approve the funds.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., chairman of the subcommittee that oversees StratCom, has been working for years to secure the new headquarters. He praised Obama's show of support for the project and said construction of the new facility is estimated to provide 400 local jobs.
"This is important because those jobs will help Nebraska's economy, our communities, many small businesses and hundreds of Nebraska families," Nelson said.
Another major federal project pending for the area is a new Department of Veterans Affairs hospital to serve veterans in Nebraska and western Iowa.
That $560 million project might be on the drawing board for a while, however, considering Obama included no construction money for the project in his budget request.
Nelson and Republican Sen. Mike Johanns and Republican Rep. Lee Terry have worked to replace the deteriorating facility at 42nd and Center Streets.
Nelson said he was disappointed that it appears construction on the new VA hospital will have to wait until at least 2014, but noted that the department is using the $56 million previously allocated for design of the new facility.
"I have been given every indication that the Veterans Administration remains committed to this major construction project," Nelson said.
Contact the writer: 202-630-4823, joe.morton@owh.com
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