Printer
Friendly Version
Wyden, Smith Securing Over
$100 Million for Oregon Defense Projects
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves
Oregon Defense Projects
June 23, 2004
Washington, DC – U.S.
Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced
that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved at least
$103.5 million in funding for defense-related projects in Oregon.
These funds are now included in the FY2005 Defense spending bill,
which must now be approved by the full Senate.
"This funding for Oregon nanotech and other cutting edge
technologies will set the table for significant job creation
in our state, while also making Oregon a key player in our national
defense efforts," said Wyden. "The committee paid a
lot of attention to Oregon today, and it shows that a little
bit of bipartisan teamwork can go a long way."
"Providing our military with the finest equipment and resources
will help maintain their effectiveness while enhancing their
safety," Smith said. "While they're overseas defending
freedom and helping maintain security in the world, we owe them
nothing less than the best we can do."
The projects that would receive funding are as follows:
-
The Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI)
would receive $5 million to develop miniaturized tactical energy
systems for a wide range of military applications, including
portable power systems for use by military personnel in the field
and power systems for remote autonomous censors.
-
ONAMI would also receive $5 million for developing nanomaterials
and nanomanufacturing methods to meet the military's simultaneous
need for high performance materials, protecting human health
and minimizing harm to the environment.
-
Oregon AERO of Scappoose would receive $5 million for improved
body armor for Oregon soldiers. Specifically, the funds would
be used to purchase helmet liner systems for National Guardsmen
and Reservists that are already being used by the Army and Special
Operations soldiers.
-
HemCon of Tigard would receive $15 million for the further development
of the chitosan hemorrhage control dressing. Animal studies conducted
by the Army indicated that the chitosan dressing can have a beneficial
effect controlling hemorrhage from internal sites, and can save
lives during surgery and preserve precious blood supply in the
field.
-
Oregon Medical Laser Center in Portland would receive $4 million
for tissue replacement and repair for battlefield injuries that
would revolutionize treatment of external bleeding, which the
Army cites as the leading preventable cause of death on the battlefield.
The first soldier to die in Afghanistan died from uncontrollable
bleeding due to a small bullet to the leg. Wyden and Smith were
able to secure $16 million last year for both the hemorrhage
control dressing and the tissue replacement and repair research
and development programs.
-
Freightliner, based in Portland, would share in $15 million
to continue its program of replacing M915 line haul tractors.
The newer heavy tactical tractors are more reliable, easier to
maintain, and significantly more fuel efficient.
-
Oregon Iron Works, with operations in Clackamas, would share
in $13 million for the completion and continued testing of a
Sealion cascading vehicle capable of supporting a variety of
missions, including mine identification and deactivation, clandestine
surveillance of shore side and seaborne activity, reconnaissance,
and target interdiction.
-
Advanced Navigation and Positioning Corporation of Hood River
would receive $12 million for Transportable Transponder Landing
Systems to improve the safety, accuracy and reliability of air
force operations.
-
The Metals Affordability
Initiative Consortium would receive $10 million for research,
testing
and development of technologies
to improve military war fighting capability while increasing
the cost-effectiveness of such technologies. The Consortium's
presence in Oregon includes Oremet, a division of Allegheny
Technologies located in Albany; Pacific Cast Technologies,
a division of Ladish
located in Albany; and Boeing's Portland machining operation & PCC
Stucturals, Inc division.
-
Macsema, an Oregon-based subcontractor of Intermec Corporation,
would share in an $8 million grant for a tracking system to monitor
location and usage of military equipment in the field. The Serial
Number Tracking System is a web-based system that would monitor
military equipment and assets during usage, maintenance, and
deployment around the world.
-
Siga Technologies, Inc. of Corvallis would receive $7.5 million
for the research and development of a system for rapid detection
and diagnosis of potential bioterrorism agents. Rapid detection
of agents and the subsequent development of vaccines are extremely
important components in combating bioterrorism.
-
Hydration Technologies of Albany would receive $7 million for
the operation and maintenance of forward osmosis technology to
provide safe fluids for consumption from available contaminated
surface water. The Army indicates that this technology will reduce
the logistics footprints of military units, extending their operational
duration and capability in remote regions.
-
American Blimp Corporation in Hillsboro would also receive $6
million for a project to deliver an airborne platform and system
that can assist soldiers in urban environments by aiding them
in identifying and defeating targets.
-
AVI BioPharma in Portland and Corvallis would receive $6 million
for the development of technology to test for and find therapeutic
agents for viruses, including the Ebola and Marburg viruses.
This program would leverage research already being conducted
in the private sector as well as by researchers at the U.S. Army
Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases to promote
survival and favorable clinical outcomes following exposure to
these toxins. The company will also receive $4 million for the
development of technology to test for and find therapeutic agents
for the Anthrax and Ricin toxins.
-
The University of Oregon's Brain, Biology and Machine Science
Initiative would receive $6 million for interdisciplinary research
related to cognitive neuroscience, genetics research, and informatics.
-
FLIR Systems in Portland would receive $5 million to upgrade
its thermal imaging systems. The upgrade would permit the Marine
Corps aircrews to more effectively detect and highlight areas
of interest for navigation and flight safety. It would also help
them to ensure that targets or obstacles are quickly identified
and designated.
-
FLIR Systems, based in Portland, would also receive $4 million
to improve the thermal imaging systems on its UH-60 MEDEVAC aircraft.
The improved imaging capabilities will permit aircrews to more
effectively detect and identify targets and areas of interest,
significantly improve flight safety and provide critical intelligence
for aircrew and civil support personnel.