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WYDEN, SMITH SECURE NEARLY
$68 MILLION FOR OREGON DEFENSE PROJECTS
Senate Approves FY 2005 Defense Funding
Bill Today
July 22, 2004
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S.
Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced
final Senate approval of $67.9 million for Oregon defense projects
in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2005, and approval of an additional
$29.4 million for projects in which Oregon companies will participate.
After today’s passage by the Senate, the same bill is expected
to pass the House shortly, and will then be sent to the President
for signature.
“The funds approved today
by the full Senate will help to create jobs for Oregonians and
maintain our state’s leading role in America’s defense
at home and abroad,” said Wyden. “I am pleased that
these funds for defense projects will be on the ground and put
to use very soon.”
“Oregon has given above
and beyond the call of duty in serving America with troops and
innovation,” said Smith. “The research and equipment
funded through this bill will go a long way in supporting our
troops and saving lives.”
The projects that would receive funding are as follows:
• The Oregon Nanoscience
and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) would receive $2.5 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
$2.5 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 $2.2 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 $10.5 million for the further development of the chitosan
hemorrhage control dressing. 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 $8.4 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.
• The Metals Affordability
Initiative Consortium would receive $7.5 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.
• Hydration Technologies
of Albany would receive $6.3 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.
• Macsema, an Oregon-based
subcontractor of Intermec Corporation, would share in a $6 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.
• Advanced Navigation
and Positioning Corporation of Hood River would receive $6 million
for Transportable Transponder Landing Systems to improve the safety,
accuracy and reliability of air force operations.
• American Blimp Corporation
in Hillsboro would 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.
• FLIR Systems, based
in Portland, would receive $5.4 million to improve the thermal
imaging systems on its UH-60 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.
Funds would be used to improve the UH-60 MEDEVAC aircraft as well
as seven other National Guard UH-60 aircraft.
• FLIR Systems in Portland
would also 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.
• Siga Technologies, Inc.
of Corvallis would receive $4 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.
• AVI BioPharma in Portland
and Corvallis would receive $3 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 $2 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 $3
million for interdisciplinary research related to cognitive neuroscience,
genetics research and informatics.
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