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ask.heather@mail.house.gov
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In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax |
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax |  |
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Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico
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| Wilson: NM Priorities Make Final Cut in Defense Bill |
July 22, 2004 |
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| Wilson’s Focus on Research & Development Preserved
Washington, DC– Congresswoman Heather Wilson said today that New Mexico’s priorities are included in the $416 billion 2005 Defense Appropriations bill which has been referred out of conference to both the House and Senate.
Earlier versions of the bill have already passed both the House and Senate. The House, which passed the initial bill 403-17 last month, could vote on the final bill as soon as this week.
“This bill places a focus on research, development and testing, while funding operations and training,” Wilson said. “Research, development and testing are New Mexico’s strengths and the future of our Armed Forces.”
Wilson said that the bill provides the tools and support that our Armed Forces need to win the War on Terror, by funding training, operations and new technology. It also supports improvements to medical care for troops and a focus on military family quality of life.
The bill funds the Airborne Laser Program at $492.6 million.
“Congress is committed to winning the war on terrorism,” Wilson said. “New Mexico plays a lead role in helping to provide our service men and women with the best in training, equipment and technology.”
Wilson-proposed New Mexico items:
$1 million, Air Force Research Lab, for Boron Energy Cell system development. This is an advanced spacecraft technology developed in FY04 that needs further evaluation and refinement for use in long term low-power devices.
$600,000, Kirtland Air Force Base, for repairing and updating the para-rescue school training jump tower at Kirtland.
$2 million, Air Force Research Lab, for Integrated Control for Autonomous Space Systems. This funding is to develop advanced satellite control and measurement technologies, enabling significant performance enhancements for Air Force space and air-breathing systems.
$1.8 million, for Laser Engineered Net Shaping Military Manufacturing Qualification.
$2 million, in addition to the President’s budget of $28.8 million, Kirtland Air Force Base, for Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center. This center is for independent evaluation of operational effectiveness and suitability of new weapons.
$11.5 million, Sandia National Labs, for the Measurement and Signals Intelligence (MASINT) Consortium. This funding is to develop intelligence and surveillance capabilities and technology.
$3.5 million, in addition to the President’s budget of $63 million, for procuring C-5 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP). Honeywell receives just over $1 million for each kit with about $700,000 for each going to Albuquerque and supporting 12 new jobs.
$2.2 million, for PING Wideband RF Target Identification system. This funding impacts ITT and creates 10-15 jobs. It accelerates the development of a portable target-identification system, which would increase the safety of troops involved in patrol missions in urban areas.
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