Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby has announced Appropriations Committee approval of the Military Construction Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2004 that will benefit the Alabama Army National Guard facility in Vincent if it becomes law.

Included in the bill is a $3.353 million appropriation to make improvements to the Readiness Center (National Guard Armory) in Vincent.

According to specialist Martin Tyson of the Alabama Army National Guard Public Affairs Office in Montgomery, the facility serves as headquarters for the 440th Chemical Company to which some 50 personnel are assigned.

Sen. Shelby said: &uot;This funding will help the Alabama Army National Guard in revitalizing its infrastructure and will support its training mission. These funds also represent our continuing commitment to our nation’s security and to the men and women who serve our country.&uot;

Dyson said the money for Vincent would be used for improvements to the building there.

Also included in the bill is $1.873 million for a fire station at Fort McClellan; $3.648 million for improvements to the Readiness Center in Fort Payne; $2.943 million for the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Phase II, in Mobile; and $3.365 million to make improvements to the Readiness Center in Springville.

The Military Construction Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2003 already includes $54.08 million for Alabama military construction projects.

The 2004 bill remains to be approved by Congress and signed by the President, according to Andrea Andrews Lofye, a spokesperson in Sen. Shelby’s office