Conference committee approves military appropriations bill

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A conference committee approved a military appropriations bill Tuesday that includes funding for military housing and improvements for training facilities in Alaska.

The bill contains $45 million for an Army barracks complex at Fort Richardson, $23 million for construction of a power plant cooling tower at Fort Wainwright to help eliminate fog on the Richardson Highway, and $20 million for construction of a dormitory at Elmendorf Air Force Base.

The bill also would help fund a new hospital at Fort Wainwright and replace fuel storage tanks at Eielson Air Force Base.

The bill also contains money to house Alaska Army Guard personnel in Juneau and the construction of three scout armories in Kipnuk, Newtok and Kake.

''The infrastructure and quality of life improvements contained in this bill demonstrate the importance of Alaska and our military facilities,'' Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, said.