COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A proposal led by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff for a new elementary school at Fort Benning has successfully passed an initial stage this week.

Senator Ossoff, who is part of both the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Military Construction Subcommittee, stated that nearly $130 million has been allocated for the school’s construction in a proposed funding bill.

It recently passed the Appropriations Committee. Ossoff says there is a lot of work to be done to pass the bill. 

“I want to emphasize that the bill has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee with widespread bipartisan backing, with support from both Republicans and Democrats,” Ossoff mentioned. “This is a significant accomplishment in our current polarized political landscape. However, we still need to bring this bill to the Senate floor, which I am working to accomplish hopefully by next week. Furthermore, we must also engage in discussions with the United States House.”

There are currently five schools on post at Fort Benning: four elementary schools and one middle school.