Hoyer Secures $26 Million for Indian Head NSWC
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) announced that $26 million he secured for Indian Head Division Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) was included in the FY09 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. Overall, the bill provides $24.8 billion for Military Construction, Family Housing and full funding for BRAC, and it sends $47.7 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs - $2.9 billion above the President's request and $4.6 billion more than last year.
"Indian Head is the leading Department of Defense facility dedicated to the research and development of explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, and high-energy chemicals and their application to warfighting systems," stated Rep. Hoyer. "As the demand for new and innovative energetics systems grows, Indian Head scientists, technicians and engineers require state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate their critical work. The upgrades to the sewage treatment systems are necessary to ensure the continued protection of the surrounding environment and to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous levels in the Chesapeake Bay."
The increased funding for veterans builds on this Congress's efforts over the last two years to keep America's promise to those who have answered the nation's highest call. In 2007, Congress passed three separate appropriations bills that increased total funding for veterans' medical care by $11.8 billion. The emergency supplemental passed by the House in June continues those efforts with further increases for VA medical care and rewarding those who serve by expanding the GI bill to provide a full, four-year college benefit to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
"The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill provides the necessary resources to address the critical needs facing America's servicemen and women, their families and our veterans," said Rep. Hoyer. "It goes a long way to provide for our nation's heroes and builds on our historic investment to keep America's promise to those who have served this county with great courage and sacrifice."
At the request of Rep. Hoyer, the following military construction projects were funded at the indicated levels in the FY09 Military Construction-VA bill:
Energetics Systems and Technology Lab Complex - $12.05 million
The new complex is needed to replace outdated labs and offices with a 21st century modernized facility required to support existing and future needs for the rapid development of new weapons technologies such as thermobaric weapons, Shoulder-Assisted Multipurpose Assault Weapons and defeat technologies for weapons of mass destruction. The new complex will house approximately 96 engineers and scientists and will accommodate new weapons and engineering laboratory as well as inert work space.
Sewage Treatment Plant upgrades at the NSWC Indian Head -$13.93 million
The project upgrades the existing sewage treatment facility to comply with Maryland Department of the Environment water quality standards for nitrogen and phosphorus levels and the "Chesapeake Bay Restoration" memorandum of understanding between the United States Department of Defense and the State of Maryland.
CLICK HERE for a fact sheet on the FY09 VA-Military Construction Bill
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