September 27, 2008

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced they secured more than $19.2 billion for the Connecticut defense industry and $106 million for military construction projects in the state.  The funding, which was approved by the Senate today as part of the Defense and the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations Acts, will boost Connecticut’s economy and help ensure that soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen - active duty, national guard, and reserve forces, have the resources and support they need to successfully perform their missions. 

 

The comprehensive funding measure also included resources for disaster relief and other domestic priorities.  This bill will provide $5.1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), including more than $95.52 million for low-income families in Connecticut.  It also rejects the President’s budget request to eliminate funding for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants and drastically cut Fire Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) grants.  The bill includes $775 million for these critical first responder grant programs that assist fire departments across the state of Connecticut and the country.

 

The legislation was approved by the House of Representatives earlier in the week and will now go to the President’s desk for his signature. 

 

"The funding passed today makes a significant investment in Connecticut’s Defense Industry and strengthens needed family support programs. I'm always proud when Connecticut's workers are entrusted with providing our military with the tools and resources they need to keep our country secure," said Dodd.  "Connecticut is on the cutting-edge of the research, development, and production of many critically important products employed by our Armed Forces, whether in the air, on land or undersea.  This critical funding, including additional support for the production of the Virginia Class submarine, represents a strong investment in Connecticut's defense industry and our country's national security. Today’s vote signals vital support for Connecticut’s families, workers and our nation’s Armed Forces"

"Senator Lieberman believes that this bill reaffirms the ability of the Connecticut defense industry to design and manufacture high quality and high value products and technologies," said Lieberman spokesman Marshall Wittmann. "The passage of this bill allows us to accelerate the production of the proven Virginia Class submarine while also beginning to plan for the replacement of the Ohio Class. It also recognizes the ingenuity of several high-technology defense companies in Connecticut that bring new capabilities to our warfighters. With this funding we can ensure that the US continues to field the best equipped and best led fighting force in the world.

"Senator Lieberman is also pleased that this bill includes additional vital assistance to our low income citizens – assistance that will help Connecticut families stay warm this winter despite rising energy costs.”

 

The Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill includes $41.8 million for the Army National Guard, over $57 million for projects that will replace outdated infrastructure at SUBASE New London, and $7.2 million to expand to the engine shop at the Air National Guard base at Bradley International Airport.

 

A list of Connecticut projects is below.

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Disaster Relief and Domestic Priorities:

Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children(WIC)

$1 billion above 2008 to provide mothers and their children with proper nutrition; Costs are up as more families struggle with the economic downturn and rising food costs.

 

Commodity Supplemental Food Program:

$23.5 million above 2008 to prevent nearly 70,000 low-income women, infants, children, and elderly citizens, from losing access to food

 

Pell Grants:

$2.5 billion above 2008, to prevent cuts to student aid midway through the year.

 

Funding in the Defense Appropriations bill will be used for military equipment, ranging from ground vehicles, aircraft, and naval ships to various advances in technology development and troop protection. The following towns and projects will be funded through the defense appropriations:

 

Bloomfield, CT

Kaman Corporation - $1.2 million to continue development of an unmanned aerial vehicle “BURRO”  that is uniquely efficient for moving equipment and supplies and $1.6 million for research on Composite Small Main Rotor Blades

 

Branford, CT

Invitrogen - $800,000 for research on a clinical diagnostic tool for the rapid determination of a servicemember's immune protection level from a wide variety of infectious diseases and biothreats.

$2.4 million to Oxley, Inc. to develop a 21st Century Military Hospital System

 

Bridgeport, CT

$800,000 to DRS Fermont for research of Co-Generation of Power and Air Conditioning

DRS Technologies received $800,000 to develop an Advanced Technology Demonstrator that provides heating, cooling, and exportable power that is in one package.

 

Danbury, CT

DRS Technologies received $7.6 million to design and build a hybrid electric drive system for insertion into DDG 51 class destroyers and $1.2 million for research on Solid State DC Protection System

FuelCell Technology - $3.5 million for a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Demonstrator at Naval Submarine Base New London

$800,000 for Goodrich Optical Systems to develop Terahertz Spectrometry Technology

$1.6 million to Strategic Minerals Corporation (STRATCOR) for continued maintenance of the Vanadium Safety Readiness Program

 

East Hartford, CT

UTC Research Center received funding for three exciting new ventures totaling $9.8 million for research projects for the Army, Navy, and Air Force

 

Groton, CT

Electric Boat received $3.5 billion for multi-year procurement of the Virginia-Class Submarine, with an additional $79 million for Virginia Class Submarine Advanced Procurement and Construction

Electric Boat also received $3.2 million for Undersea Launched Missile Study

Mystic Innovations received $3.44 million for integrated ship and motion control technology

 

Manchester, CT

$800,000 to Purdy Transmissions, Timkin to develop a Chinook Helicopter Accessory Box

$1.6 million to Purdy Transmissions, Timkin for research on hybrid bearings for the Air Force

 

Meriden, CT

 The Miller Company – Diehl, received $1.6 million for Copper Antimicrobial research

 

Middletown, CT

Pratt & Whitney received funding for several different procurement and research projects, including:

$2.93 billion for the multi-year procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine

$387.58 million for the advanced procurement of the Joint Strike Fighter

$3.48 billion for further research and improvement of the Joint Strike Fighter

$2.9 billion for the multi-year procurement of the F-22A Raptor and $535 million for the advanced purchase of additional F-22A aircraft

$607 million for research and development for the F-22A

$635 million for multi-year procurement of the C17 Globemaster - each has 4 Pratt & Whitney P117 PW-100 engines

$111 million for E-8 Joint STARS Re-Engining

$105 million for the Army National Guard F-16 Engine Upgrade 

$8.64 million for research on the Advanced Turbine Engine Program

 

New Haven, CT

VaxInnate and the Yale New Haven Health System received $800,000 and $3.2 million, respectively, for research on Mosquito borne disease protection and a National Center for Integrated Domestic Disaster Medical Response

 

North Haven, CT

Precision Combustion Incorporated received $2.4 million for research on the Advanced Logistics Fuel Reformer for Fuel Cells

 

Norwalk, CT

$20 million to Norden Systems (Northrup Grumman) for next-generation, high-altitude, precision surveillance and targeting radar (MP-RTIP) for the JSTARS aircraft

 

Pawcatuck, CT

$1.6 million to Yardney Technical Products for research on Lithium Ion Domestic Materials Development

 

Rocky Hill, CT

CONNSTEP, Inc - $800,000 for a New England Defense Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative

 

South Windsor, CT

$5.6 million to complete testing and qualification of the ACES 5 ejection seat, Pioneer Aerospace

 

Stamford, CT

L-1 Identity Solutions - $1.6 million for Biometric Terrorist Watch-list Development

 

Stonington, CT

Chesapeake Sciences - $800,000 to develop a Submarine Fatline Vector Sensor Towed Array

 

Stratford, CT

Sikorsky received funding for a variety of procurement and research projects for several different helicopters, including:

$1.26 billion for the multi-year procurement and to conduct research for the MH-60R Naval Hawk

$927 million for the multi-year procurement of UH/HH-60M Black Hawks

$607 million for multi-year and advanced procurement of the MH-60S Naval Hawk

$570 million for research and development for the Navy CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter

$137 million for the advanced purchase of UH-60 Black Hawks

$8 million to convert and upgrade 38 Army National Guard Black Hawks

 

Waterbury, CT

Luvata Waterbury - $2 million for a Copper Air Quality Program

$15 million for the Waterbury Industrial Commons Redevelopment Project

 

West Hartford, CT

Colt Defense received $151 million for the purchase of 88,964 M4 Carbines

Goodrich Pump and Engine Controls, received $3.2 million to continue the development of a Universal Control (FADEC) to cover all Army helicopter applications

 

Windsor, CT

$2 million to Aero Gear for the development of the Legacy Aerospace Gear Drive Re-Engineering Initiative

Infinity Fuel Cells - $1.2 million to for the Regenerative Fuel Cell Back-up Power project, and $1 million to develop Smart Modular Off-Grid Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology

 

Windsor Locks, CT

$2 million to Hamilton Sundstrand for a project to improve the bladed propeller system for the Air National Guard C-130 special missions aircraft

 

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