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The federal House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee smiled upon Central Coast army bases and training institutes today, approving a bill that allocates some $46 million for facilities in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties.

Monterey's Defense Language Institute received $3 million to fund a new general instruction facility, and the small arms range at Fort Hunter-Liggett will get a $5.2 million upgrade. Camp Roberts, though, was the big winner, scoring $38.1 million for both basic maintenance upgrades and the construction of the Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Facility. The base, just north of Paso Robles, is now poised to be a key center for the development of cutting-edge military technology.

In all, the subcommittee, which includes Rep. Sam Farr (R-Carmel), voted to appropriate $72.5 billion in discretionary funding to military projects. "These funds will ensure that our local military personnel continue to have the resources they need to train and carry out their vital missions," said Farr in a statement released by his office. Expect to hear some giant sighs of relief as you drive by DLI today.