Dreier Votes to Approve Key Defense, Veterans Bills

September 24 , 2008

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), Ranking Republican of the House Rules Committee, voted today to approve two pieces of critical legislation supporting our troops and veterans.  The National Defense Authorization Act for 2009, H.R. 5658, was approved with broad bipartisan support, 392-39.  Dreier also voted to approve legislation containing funding for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2638, which passed 370-58.

“Supporting our troops and veterans is a paramount responsibility,” Dreier said.  “The legislation approved today represents a strong commitment to those who sacrifice daily for the security of our country.  These bills will provide quality health care for our troops, our veterans, and their families.  Additionally, these bills contain funding for improvements at hospitals, barracks, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home.  They will also provide the necessary equipment and resources for our troops in the field.”

The 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which was approved as part of H.R. 2638, provides $41 billion for veterans medical care including mental health and substance abuse treatment, rural health initiatives, patient travel reimbursements, and assistance for homeless vets.  It also includes $233 million to continue a quality of life initiative for troops and their families.  The 2009 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, also approved as part of H.R. 2638, provides $3 billion for improvements at barracks and hospitals and $750 million to help the National Guard and Reserve meet their equipment needs.  It also includes some funding for local companies helping equip our troops in the war against terror, including:

• ·$3.2 million for Fire Shield developed by Chang Industry of La Verne.  Fire Shield is an Active Protection System (APS), which will help protect armored vehicles from the blast effects and plasma jet of rocket propelled grenades.

• ·$1.6 million for Micro Seeker System for Small Steerable Projectiles by Tanner Research of Monrovia.  The Micro Seeker System is a sensor system that uses small munitions to track and destroy incoming threats like mortars and artillery rounds.

• ·$800,000 for the Wavelength Agile Spectral Harmonic Oxygen Sensor and the Cell Level Battery Controller developed by Advanced Projects Research, Inc. of La Verne.  The oxygen sensor eliminates the possibility of mixing oxygen and other gases in an aircraft fuel tank, which can cause the aircraft to explode. The Cell Level Battery Controller intends to monitor and control charge and temperature at the cell level of battery energy storage systems. 

• $800,000 to procure 888 MBU 20/P Oxygen Masks with Mask Lights manufactured by Gentex Corporation in Rancho Cucamonga.  This funding will supply Air National Guard aircrews with 888 enhanced oxygen masks.

• ·$2 million for Advanced Molecular Medicine Initiative (AMMI) by City of Hope.  AMMI is an innovative molecular-targeted therapy that allows for a more effective and less toxic treatment of cancer at the molecular level by targeting drugs specifically to the affected cells, rather than the conventional entire body approach.