FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 1999
CONTACT: Lisette McSoud Mondello
SENATE APPROVES FINAL VERSION
OF FY2000 DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Includes $887.6 million for V-22 Osprey, $184 million for H-1 upgrade program
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate has approved the final version of a $268 billion FY2000 Defense Appropriations Bill that includes $856.4 million for the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft as well as $184.3 million for the H-1 upgrade, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison announced Thursday.
"Our investment in the V-22 will change the future of warfare," Senator Hutchison said. "This is an aircraft that can meet the challenges of warfare and rescue operations our forces will face in the 21st century."
The V-22 Osprey combines the vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of a helicopter with the high-speed cruising ability of a conventional, turboprop airplane.
"Additional funding was needed for this revolutionary aircraft to ensure its timely production and fielding," said the Senator, who was instrumental in increasing funding for the program next year. "The last four Commandants of the Corps have identified the V-22 as the Marines' number one modernization priority."
At her urging, Congress added $53 million to the administration's original V-22 budget request, for a total of $856.4 million for the procurement of 12 aircraft for the Marine Corps, $22.2 million for the Air Force V-22 program, and an additional $9 million for continued development of a Special Operations version of the aircraft, the CV-22. The CV-22 is being developed for the U.S. Special Operations Command and the Air Force Special Operations Command to provide better performance during long-range missions under night, all-weather, and high-threat conditions.
The bill also provides $184.3 million for the H-1 upgrade program to modernize the UH-1N and AH-1W aircraft, which perform medical evacuation, special maritime and search and rescue operations. Congress provided an additional $26.6 million for this program over what the administration had requested.
Both the V-22 Osprey and CV-22 are built by Fort Worth-based Bell Textron at its new Amarillo production facility. Bell-Textron in Fort Worth is carrying out the H-1 modernization program.
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