September 27, 2006

 Pryce Secures Defense Funding for
Area Industries and Researchers
 

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus) today announced that $9.65 million has been included for central Ohio manufacturers and researchers to support the needs of our nation’s military in the Conference Report to H.R. 5631, the FY 2007 Department
of Defense Appropriations Bill, pursuant to her requests. The Conference Report was passed by the House tonight by a vote of 394 - 22.

“To have the greatest fighting and peacekeeping force in the world, we need to make sure it has the most up-to-date and technologically advanced equipment available,” said Pryce. “Industries in the central Ohio area are producing state-of-the-art technologies that are keeping our troops safe, and helping them win the War on Terror. I am thrilled that central Ohio has become an integral partner in increasing the efficiency and strength of our nation’s military, and our economy is gaining jobs as a result.”

H.R. 5631 includes the following Pryce-supported funding:

  • $1.8 million for Battelle’s Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Docking and Refueling Station (in addition to $2.1 million secured in FY06).

The AUV and ADRS will enable the US Navy to conduct nearly continuous ocean surveillance in remote locations for extended periods of time without human presence. This project will develop and demonstrate a forward deployed “base” for one or more AUVs.

  • $1 million for OSU’s Multi-Functional Oxide Materials Applications and Devices.

Multifunctional oxides are ceramic materials whose electric and magnetic properties are hundreds to thousands of times stronger than those typically used in microwave communication and sensing. These materials can be designed at the atomic scale to concentrate electromagnetic waves into ultra-small antennas. The technology has numerous potential applications, but among the most promising is the possibility that the proposed metal oxide development will enable the manufacturing of portable and compact subsurface-penetrating electromagnetic equipment that can be used to see into the ground or through walls. Miniaturizing such equipment will enable its use in applications as diverse as unmanned air vehicles and biosensors.

  • $1.3 million for Velocys (based in Plain City) to continue developing Distributed Transportable Synthetic Fuel Manufacturing Modules (in addition to $4.5 million secured in FY05 and FY06).

Fuel accounts for 70 percent of re-supply tonnage during combat operations. By generating synthetic fuel in theater, the Army could dramatically reduce re-supply tonnage shipments, freeing up airlift and sealift for other urgent wartime missions, and perhaps most importantly, reduce the number of vulnerable logistical convoy operations conducted. This funding will continue development of a system that can be deployed during conflict to convert natural gas to synthetic fuel for U.S. combat forces.

 

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