WASHINGTON — One of New York's U.S. senators is throwing his support behind the proposed construction of more than 550 additional houses on Fort Drum.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, urging him to approve the installation's request to build the new houses on post.

"I strongly support this housing construction program, and would ask that you dedicate your best efforts toward getting the approvals needed to fund these houses that will become the homes of some of our nation's greatest treasures," Sen. Schumer said in the letter.

Fort Drum announced Wednesday that it wanted to build 554 homes to meet the needs of the 1,479 soldiers to be assigned to the installation by 2013.

The post is currently building 845 homes and renovating 2,272, in a project scheduled to be completed by 2009.

Congress allocated $75 million to the installation last year for the construction of new dwellings. Fort Drum initially said it would use the money to build 320 houses, but amended that number to 554 this week.

Fort Drum has said it will not need to seek any additional funding over the $75 million for the project.

"As Fort Drum continues to grow with the addition of 1,500 soldiers and their families over the next five years we must ensure that their quality of life is maintained at a level that is commensurate with their service," Sen. Schumer said.

Fort Drum has said that it expects the proposal to be approved by the Pentagon by mid-May, and construction on the homes would begin shortly after that. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2011.