Hoyer Secures $33.68 Million for Indian Head in Federal Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has approved $34.18 million for projects to benefit the Indian Head Naval installation in Southern Maryland. The funding was included in the FY09 Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 2638) at the request of Rep. Hoyer. The bill was passed yesterday by the House; the Senate is expected to vote on the measure this week. Also included in the bill was a pay adjustment of 3.9 percent for federal civilian employees and military personnel.

"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 and support to accommodate their critical work.

"The continued funding of Indian Head Energetics programs underscores their importance to ensuring the strength of America's national security. Furthermore, 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. I am exceedingly proud of Indian Head's contributions and believe this funding will go a long way to ensure its continued success."

Funding that will benefit NSWC Indian Head included in the FY09 Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act is listed below.

Sewage Treatment Plant upgrades at the NSWC Indian Head -$13.93 million
This 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.

Energetics Systems and Technology Lab Complex at the NSWC Indian Head - $12.05 million
The new complex is needed to replace outdated labs and offices with a 21^st century modernized facility required to support existing and future needs for the rapid development of new weapons technologies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 a new weapons and engineering laboratory as well as inert work space.

Energetics Science & Technology Workforce Revitalization Initiative - $4.5 Million
In 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. 

Over the last ten years, the CECD has successfully conducted wide-ranging basic research to advance the science and engineering of energetics. The CECD also has begun to recapitalize the nation's energetics professional workforce through a unique, advanced-degree energetics curriculum.  Funding will be used to bolster the Energetics Technology Center (ETC), a collaboration of the University of Maryland, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC/IHDIV), the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Charles County Government to engage in the research and development of energetics systems and related technologies and in workforce development.

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."

High Energy Conventional Energetics (Phase II) - $3.2 Million
Energetic innovations have provided America's military with new weapons, such as the thermobaric ‘cave busting' bomb, to meet unforeseen military objectives, such as the assault on the Al Qaeda caves in Afghanistan.  This program will leverage thermobaric technology and develop new forms of reactive structural materials and thermobaric high temperature incendiaries to develop the next generation High Energy Conventional Energetic weapons.  Rep. Hoyer secured $5 million for Phase One in the FY08 Department of Defense Appropriations.