WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and John E. Sununu (R-NH) announced that the Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Appropriations conference report passed the Senate by a final vote of 100-0.  The bill was passed last night by the House of Representatives and will now be sent to the President’s desk for his signature. The bill includes $69.3 million for New Hampshire companies, including $6 million for developments and programs being undertaken by companies in the Upper Valley area.   A breakdown of the projects is listed below.

The bill appropriates $436.6 billion for the Department of Defense, including $70 billion for operations related to the Global War on Terror. It provides: a 2.2 percent across-the-board pay raise for military personnel, pay and allowances for mobilized Reserve and Guard Soldiers, Special Pays to include Imminent Danger Pay to Active, Reserve, and Guard Soldiers who are deployed in support of GWOT, and additional Combat Benefits for death and traumatic injury. Additionally, the bill includes funding for a Virginia Class submarine, adds $290 million for National Guard and Reserve equipment, provides $1.1 billion for body armor and personal protection equipment, $1.9 billion for efforts to defeat Improvised Explosive Devices, $1.5 billion for Up-armored HMMWVs, and directs that $2.94 billion of procurement funds be available for equipping the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.

Senator Gregg, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, stated, “Companies throughout New Hampshire continue to produce top-level products and services that are helping the men and women of our Armed Services carry out their duties worldwide. They are making a significant contribution to our national security, and I am pleased that their hard work and innovation is being recognized through the funding included in this bill. This bill provides critical support for the men and women of our Armed Forces who put their lives on the line every day to protect our country.  They need the most innovative technology and tools in the continuing war on terror, and this bill provides that support."

“Military facilities and private-sector companies across New Hampshire, New England and the nation play an important role in supporting and protecting our men and women in uniform no matter where they serve around the world.  The resources in this defense bill provide critical investments needed to fight the global war on terror, protect the homeland and make investments to best respond to future threats at home and abroad,” said Senator Sununu.

Fiscal Year 2007 Department of Defense Appropriations Conference Report
Upper Valley

U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover - $1.3 million for research and development on terrain, meteorological and human geospatial behavioral factors affecting mission planning and execution for the U.S. Army.

Timken Aerospace, Lebanon - $4.7 million for research and development directed at developing improved high speed, long life bearings for critical U.S. military applications.

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