Hoyer Announces Authorization of Southern Maryland Military Projects
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) and the U.S. House voted today to pass the Defense Authorization bill for fiscal year 2008 to authorize appropriations for military activities under the Department of Defense. Several projects benefiting military installations in Maryland's 5th Congressional District were included in the authorization bill at Rep. Hoyer's request. Overall, the bill authorizes $645.5 billion - $2.1 billion more than the president's request - and for the first time since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, provides full-year funding for military operations in those countries.
"Maryland's 5th District houses several important military facilities critical to ensuring the strength of America's national security," stated Rep. Hoyer. "I will continue to fight for the resources necessary to bolster these missions and to ensure that the United States remains the premier military innovator in the world."
At the request of Rep. Hoyer, the following military construction projects were authorized at the indicated levels in the FY08 Defense Authorization bill:
Aircraft Prototype Facility Phase I at NAS Patuxent - $17.99 million The Aircraft Prototype Facility has been in the planning stages for Pax River for more than 10 years and is anticipated to add a significant capability that takes advantage of the existing investment in the Air Combat Environment Test & Evaluation Facility (ACETEF). Stated Rep. Hoyer, "The Advanced Prototype Facility (APF) will augment our ACETEF and Anechoic Chamber capabilities, and we are excited to begin construction on this important National asset."
E-2 Advanced Hawkeye RDT&E Facility at NAS Patuxent - $13.65 million The Advanced Hawkeye RDT&E Facility is being built for the arrival of the new E-2D aircraft that will arrive at Pax River for testing later this year. The funding would also provide for several years of testing and life cycle support for this important program, which is currently one of the Navy's most important aviation initiatives.
Advanced Energetics Research Lab at Indian Head - $9.5 million Innovations in energetics have provided America's military with new weapons - like the thermobaric ‘cave busting' bomb - to meet unforeseen military objectives, such as the assault on the al Qaeda caves in Afghanistan. The Advanced Energetics Research Lab facility is being funded at the request of Rep. Hoyer who has long advocated a long-term investment at Indian Head NSWC that will consolidate several facilities and provide modern laboratory workspace for the highly skilled personnel at the base. Additionally, language was included in the authorization bill that reinforces the designation of the lab as the DOD's Center for Energetics - a title officially designated during the 2005 BRAC process.
Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) at NAS Patuxent - $6.75 millionThis important facility will house the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) program that will allow aircraft to land on any suitable land or sea-based surface worldwide, regardless of poor visibility and bad weather conditions. This next-generation approach and landing system will provide joint operational capability for U.S. forces to perform assigned conventional and special operations missions from fixed-base, tactical, shipboard, and other environments. Existing civil and military systems do not satisfy JPALS requirements because they have a number of shortcomings and they limit joint operations
Energetics Science & Technology Workforce Revitalization Initiative at Indian Head - $5 millionIn 1998, the Navy and the University of Maryland established the Center for Energetic Concepts Development (CECD), a cooperative alliance to develop the next-generation of energetics professionals to meet the Navy's future tactical requirements and provide both the DOD and related private industry with the intellectual capital required to maintain America's energetics dominance. Rep. Hoyer has said of this initiative, "Indian Head is home to some of our nation's finest scientists and engineers, a large segment of whom are nearing retirement age. This workforce revitalization initiative will help produce and sustain the next generation of energetics experts."
In addition, the FY08 Defense Authorization bill provided for additional funding for the following previously authorized projects:
- Age Exploration Model Program – $3 million was added for the continuation of funding for an important NAVAIR program that seeks to reduce downtime and extends the service life for military aircraft through better prediction tools and methodology.
- High Energy Conventional Energetics Program at Indian Head - $6 million was added to improve the lethality of conventional weapons already in use by the military.
- AEGIS -DDG Class ship Modernization Program - $3.9 million was added for a communications upgrade, which is work that would benefit Webster Field, St. Inigoes.
CLICK HERE for a fact sheet on the Defense Authorization for FY 2008.
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