http://craig.senate.gov/press/

For Immediate Release:
September 25, 2008

Craig, Crapo, Simpson Secure Projects for Treasure Valley and Magic Valley in Defense Bill

Bill Contains Funding for Technology to Eliminate Traditional Batteries for Soldiers

Washington, DC — Idaho Senators Larry Craig, Mike Crapo and Congressman Mike Simpson, announced the inclusion of several Idaho-specific projects in H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Both Craig and Simpson are members of their respective Appropriations Committees that crafted the legislation.

"Idaho's high-tech industry and universities have a history of providing our troops with the tools and resources they need and deserve," said Craig. "This funding means that tradition will continue in to the future, as we work to strengthen our nation's defense."

"I am deeply proud of the work Idaho's businesses and universities are doing every single day to improve our nation's security," Simpson said. "The projects included in this bill represent critical investments the federal government is making in our nation's security. They also represent investments in our state's high-tech economy and educational institutions that are vital to growing Idaho's economy and creating good paying jobs."

"It is rewarding to see that Congress is, once again, recognizing the important national security contributions made by Idaho universities, research entities, and businesses," Crapo said. "These critical projects are among the most cutting-edge research efforts anywhere in the country and the federal government's investment in them will go a long way toward securing our nation and its interests, as well as advancing Idaho's high-technology future."

• Boise:
  • Integrated Patient Quality Programs; Healthwise. ($1,600,000) This funding will create an automatic consumer health information system to ensure our military and veteran patients have appropriate health information to manage their condition.
  • 3-D Technology for Advanced Sensor Systems, Boise State University. ($1,440,000) This funding will continue research to create 3-D integration and packaging solutions applicable to a general category of high performance sensor systems. The 3-D packaging approach offers the promise of a dramatic decrease in the system weight and volume, together with increased system performance.
  • Hybrid Power Generation System, M2E Power, Inc. ($1,200,000) Approximately $57,000 is being spent per soldier, per year on batteries alone in the field. This breakthrough technology can reduce the reliance on disposable batteries by developing compressed magnetic fields. This will considerably reduce related military logistics costs and the amount of hazardous waste disposal costs for the toxic substances used in battery material.
  • DNA Safeguard, Boise State University. ($1,200,000)This will help develop a method for identifying DNA sequences not found in nature, and which can be used as molecular barcodes, to prevent contamination and mislabeling.
  • Ultra Low Power Electronics, American Semiconductor. ($3,200,000) This funding will be used to create electronics in portable military, homeland security, and consumer products that can operate off of reduced power voltage, enabling state of the art electronics to be developed.
  • Reconfigurable Electronics and Non-Volatile Memory Research, Boise State University. ($2,000,000) BSU will use funds to develop new memory devices capable of maintaining information in the absence of electrical power and in the presences of radiation. These devices will be used in the next generation of military technology for use on the battlefield and in satellites.
  • AB-FIST Gunnery Trainer Upgrades for the Idaho National Guard ($1,000,000)
  • Flextrain Exportable Combat Training Capability for the Idaho National Guard ($800,000)
• Eagle:
  • Medical Modeling and Simulation through Synthetic Digital Genes Crowley Davis Inc. ($1,000,000) will use this funding for medical modeling and simulation through synthetic digital genes.
• Nampa:
  • Laser Studied and Enhanced Reactive Materials; Self-Decontaminating Polymers for Chemical-Biological Defense, Boise Tech. ($1,600,000) This funding will assist in the development of self-decontaminating, self-repairing polymer systems capable of providing comprehensive protection upon prolonged exposure against chemical nerve agents, blister agents, and biological warfare agents. This understanding will allow for faster response to the development of new counter measures to new threat agents in the future.
  • Research on Molecular Approach to Hazardous Materials Decontamination, Boise, Tech. ($1,200,000) This funding will be used to develop an effective chemical and biological decontamination formula.
• Mountain Home:
  • Mountain Home Air Force Base Logistics Readiness Center. ($1,800,000) The existing Logistic Supply is a condemned 53-year old wooden structure beyond economical repair, which had to be evacuated. This negatively impacts Wing's ability to demolish and relocate from other substandard facilities on base. When funded, Logistics Readiness Center will provide command and control for all materials in-bound and outbound, including freight processing, packing, crating, pallet buildup shop, and provide bulk and bin storage.
• Magic Valley/ Sun Valley Area:
  • Vacuum Sampling Pathogen Collection and Concentration; Microbial Vac. ($3,200,000) This Jerome-based company will develop advanced "Vacuum Pathogen" collection and concentration systems to trace bio-treat agents in food safety and environmental settings.
  • Lightweight Ballistic Maxillofacial Protection System, Eye Safety Systems, Sun Valley. ($3,500,000) Soldiers are inadequately protected from ballistic injuries to the face; therefore, many Soldiers continue to experience life-altering face and neck injuries sustained during combat missions that could be averted with adequate facial protection. This funding will be used to procure Lightweight Ballistic Maxillofacial Protection Systems for approximately 30,000 deployed U.S. Army Soldiers to provide them with maximum protection against face, nose, mouth and jaw injuries with minimal added weight.

H.R. 2638 passed the House of Representatives last night with a vote of 370-58 and is expected to pass the Senate soon. The bill would then await the President's signature to become law.

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