 |
 |
 |
|
ask.heather@mail.house.gov
|
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 |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico
Home » R&E; TAX CREDIT BILL INTRODUCED... » Indian Health Care » Wilson: NM Priorities Make Fin... » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 9 » Detailed Safety Plan » Bush Education Official and U.... » Wilson Strongly Supports Effor... » House passes balanced and comp... » Helping You Stay Informed » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » Wilson Urges Iran to Release W... » Wilson Calls on China to Relea... » FISA: We have to get this don... » Wilson-Domenici language resol... » Wilson Works to Protect Immigr... » Disabilities Employment Awaren... » Adding Up the Good News for Ne... » Wilson Web Site Named Among th... » Wilson Serves Lunch to Albuque... » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 11 » How Fuel Efficient is Your Car... » U.S. Senator Pete Domenici » The People`s House » Welcoming Hurricane Evacuees t... » Wilson Secures Independent Stu... » Wilson Introduces House Bill t... » The World Bank and Iran » Wilson letter on Valle Vidal » E-Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 13 » Canceling the Route 66 Celebra... » BRAC and the Pentagon » Wilson Announces $1.25 Million... » Wilson Congratulates UNM on NA... » The Banner Still Waves » Wilson Announces Progress on D... » Wilson Aims to Give Teachers C... » E-Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 20 » Wilson: ‘How Will We Welcome T... » Wilson Votes for Tougher Corpo... » Tax Day Burden Lighter for New... » Wilson Votes Against Budget Re... » Big Brothers Big Sisters » Wilson Welcomes Hurricane Reli... » AP: BIA updates safe driving p... » Making Necessary Medicines Aff... » House Updates Patriot Act to K... » Kirtland Air Force Base and th... » E-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 13 » Wilson Hires Dustman as Chief ... » Wilson: Good Reports Highlight... » VA » A Decade of Dreams » HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED » House Passes Military Spending... » Wings for our Dreams » When Wildfire Threatens » We built you a new internet of... » Wilson Says Rep. Delay Should ... » Wilson Statement on the Death ... » Letter to Secretary Rumsfeld U... » Bringing the American dream wi... » Wilson: Stand Up and Be Counte... » Securing our border... » Osprey Taking Flight to Kirtla... » Wilson`s Nuclear Energy Bill C... » God Bless America... » Wilson: Community Must Combat ... » Keeping New Mexicans Safe... » New York Times: Republican Who... » Water Planning » Wilson Announces $100,000 Awar... » Part-time Soldiers, Full-time ... » Wilson Amendment Passes House ... » Water Rights Focus of Committe... » Wilson & Udall Bill Would Shie... » Wilson Focuses on Prevention o... » Wilson secures $800,000 fund t... » Internet Rumors » Wilson Sponsored Resolution to... » Wilson Cosponsors Bill to Impr... » Wilson Introduces Bill to Hold... » Women`s History Month--Nominat... » Honor 2nd Lt. Murphy » Nice Haul » Wilson Statement on President’... » Wilson Reintroduces Teacher Ta... » Commonly Asked Questions about... » Energy Assistance Program » Wilson Work Results in Continu... » A Rising Threat--Broken Famili... » Wilson Tours Albuquerque Manuf... » Explore America! » Disaster Relief Efforts » Wilson Hails NM Scholars Initi... » Wilson to Feds: Tell us before... » Wilson Joins Bush Push To Crea... » Wilson Seeks Action to Combat ... » Wilson and Domenici to Seek Fu... » Good News » Albuquerque Transportation Fun... » Wilson Votes “Yes” on Fix for ... » It’s Time to Add Prescription ... » The Mail » Putting the Death Tax in the D... » Wilson/Skeen Gain Hospital Fun... » Wilson Welcomes Water Funds fo... » Esther Martinez Act: Native La... » APS Awarded School Violence Pr... » Guidelines for Artistic Discov... » Tijeras Gets Funding for Water... » New Mexico National Guard Slat... » Wilson: House Committee Passes... » E-Newsletter, Volume 4, Issue ... » Wilson Statement Opposing Radi... » Wilson Commends VA for Additio... » Women ‘Inspiring Hope & Possib... » Wilson, Subcommittee Examine Q... » Good News for New Mexico » New Mexico honors the heroes o... » Wilson Introduces Legislation ... » Wilson Urges Action on Highway... » Wilson cites Stimulative Effec... » Wilson Announces Native Americ... » Wilson Urges Funding for More ... » Wilson Welcomes Seniors to Pre... » Wilson Requests Funding for Ne... » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » A LESSON IN TELLING THE TRUTH » Wilson Named to Serve on Presc... » Forest Service Jobs Now Availa... » Wilson Bill Encourages Math & ... » Wilson Named to the United Sta... » Time is running out to nominat... » Wilson Hails Approval of Cerro... » Wilson votes to bolster securi... » Wilson & Domenici Working to P... » New Job Numbers Good for New M... » New Mexico’s Delegation to U.S... » Wilson Responds to Proposed Ch... » Wilson Highlights Link to Supp... » E-Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 10 » Housing Project to Bring $150 ... » Wilson Brings A Little of New ... » NY Times: Your Passport May B... » Wilson promotes New Mexico Nat... » Wilson Wants DHS to Enforce Pa... » Wilson Releases Report on U.S.... » Wilson Introduces Bill to Fund... » Wilson Praises Los Alamos For ... » Nominate an outstanding woman ... » Fed Dollars to Help Employ Dis... » A Plan to Drain the Rain from ... » Wilson Wants to Hear from NM S... » Samoas, or Thin Mints? » Wilson Congratulates Tempur-Pe... » Putting the pieces together: ... » Wilson Backs FISA Law Change » Reimbursement rates raised to ... » Wilson, Domenici Welcome House... » E-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 7 » Wilson Votes to End the “Death... » Wilson Welcomes Improved Title... » WILSON SUPPORTS BILL TO USE 5... » Veterans » Wilson-Buyer Increase Opportun... » Medicare, IRA Accounts and Sig... » Service Academies Night with R... » Wilson Highlights Need for Ene... » New Mexico applies for Charter... » One Week Remains in This Medic... » Wilson Calls For Study To Stre... » Wilson Secures $49.5 Million f... » E-Newsletter, Volume 4, Issue ... » Lower Our Voices and Raise Our... » Wilson Cosponsors Bill to Prot... » Swearing-In Day at the U.S. Ca... » Wilson Aims to Boost New Mexic... » Wilson Praises the President’s... » E-Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue ... » E-Newsletter, Volume 5, Issue ... » Wilson Committee Oversees Nati... » Letter to the President Regard... » Wilson Applauds Release of Bor... » Wilson Announces New Mexico Ed... » Wilson Secures Significant Fun...
|
|
 |
| Wilson Secures Significant Funding for New Mexico in House Defense Authorization Bill |
August 02, 2001 |
| |
| Legislation strikes balance between quality of life, readiness, and modernization needs
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson successfully secured a number of funding request critical to Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Labs and Los Alamos National Lab during a marathon committee session that ended near midnight on Wednesday. The House Armed Services Committee, of which Wilson is a member, passed H.R. 2586, the fiscal year 2002 Defense Authorization Bill, out of committee on a bipartisan 58 to 1 vote.
In addition to funding many important programs for New Mexico, this years defense authorization bill includes the largest military pay raise since 1982--after pay table adjustments contained in the bill, every service member will receive a raise of between 5 and 10 percent (effective January 1, 2002), significant construction efforts to improve the facilities in which military personnel live and work, and substantial increases to readiness accounts that support operations, maintenance, and training.
The legislation also includes strong support for the President’s missile defense program and provides marginal increases to the President’s request for procurement accounts, slowing the erosion of our national defense and smoothing the transition into tomorrow’s military.
“This is a good first step toward ensuring that the men and women who serve in the armed forces have the training and equipment necessary to effectively protect our national interests at home and abroad,” said Wilson. “I am particularly pleased that the committee included my requests to fund some critical projects at Kirtland Air Force Base.”
“However, I continue to be seriously concerned about inadequate funding for nuclear weapons activities at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. The chairman of the committee committed to work with me to address these shortfalls as this process moves forward. I will work with him and Senator Domenici to ensure that our national labs have the funding they need to successfully carry out their mission.”
Weapons Activities were authorized at $5.37 billion, slightly above the President’s request. Wilson believes the actual need is $6.1 billion.
The following is a summary of funding included in the legislation that impacts New Mexico:
$4.3 million to Construct a New Small Arms Range and Support Facility at Kirtland Air Force Base
The committee approved Wilson’s $4.3 million authorization, which will allow Kirtland to demolish the existing WWII wood frame facilities and range complex in order to replace it with a new complex capable of meeting the training requirements of the 6,000 personnel that use it annually.
Funding for the 58th Special Operations Wing
$1.5 million for the MC-130 Weapon System Trainer Software Upgrade
The Committee approved Wilson’s request for an authorization of $1.5 million in procurement for the 58th Special Operations Wing (SOW). This much needed software update will ensure that trainees have the most up to date training system for the MC-130P simulator.
$1.3 million for the MC-130H Visual Scene and Sensor Display
The committee approved Wilson’s request to authorize $1.3 million, which will provide a much needed upgrade to the current visual scene and display sensor used on the MC-130H Combat Talon II simulator. This training device utilizes a visual display system that limits the field-of-view for all crew positions, especially the Flight Engineer’s position, which remains virtually blank.
$4.5 million for the Forward-Looking Infrared Sensors (FLIRs)
The committee approved Wilson’s request for a $4.5 million authorization for the 58th SOW Forward-Looking Infrared Sensors (FLIRs) for HH-60 Pave Hawks. FLIR sensors are needed for two important reasons: First, the FLIR is an essential and integral element of the HH-60G weapons system. Secondly, the FLIR significantly adds to the safety of night low level training. FLIR sensors often display detail of terrain on low-level routes and obstacles in the landing zones not readily visible on night vision goggles.
Language Urging Federal Action to Help Acquire Reparations for the Bataan Veterans
Congresswoman Wilson worked with committee members to include language in the legislation that strongly urges the federal government to drop their opposition to the lawsuits being offered by Bataan Veterans seeking reparation from Japanese corporations that benefited from slave labor. The following is the language that Wilson helped authored and was included in the bill:
“The committee is repulsed by the inhumane treatment of U.S. prisoners of war (POWs) at the hands of Japanese corporations that benefited for their efforts as slave laborers during World War II. The committee believes that these POWs are deserving of the opportunity to seek a just settlement from the Japanese corporations in the courts. The committee believes that the success of other claimants in gaining reparations from the Japanese nation for World War II misconduct signals a new era of reconciliation that must now include the U.S. POWs forced to work as slave laborers. The committee believes that the United States government should abandon its formal opposition to the court actions filed by the U.S. POW slave laborers from World War II and apply the resources of the Department of State and the Department of Justice to the task of assisting these deserving former POWs to obtain proper settlements to their claims.”
$400 million for the Airborne Laser (ABL) Program
The Committee authorized $400 million for the Airborne Laser (ABL) program. The Air Force Research Laboratory, located at Kirtland Air Force Base manages the project. Major tests for the program are conducted at White Sands Missile Range.
Nuclear Weapons Programs in the Department of Energy (DOE)
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The committee authorized $6.9 billion ($83.1 million more than the President’s request) for NNSA, a semi-autonomous agency with responsibility for managing the nation’s nuclear weapons, nonproliferation, and naval reactor programs.
$5.37 billion for Weapons Activities
Directed Stockpile Work--The committee approved $1.04 billion to fully fund stockpile life extension and evaluation programs.
Campaigns—The committee approved $2.04 billion.
Readiness in Technical Bas and Facilities—The committee approved $1.44
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation--The committee recommends $773.7 million to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Production Facilities Operations. The committee believes the budget request places insufficient priority on restoring and modernizing the nation’s nuclear weapons plants and recommends $50.6 million (the President did not request any funds) for infrastructure improvements at the Pantex and Y-12 plants.
Specific projects authorized at Los Alamos and Sandia include:
$11 million for construction of a Strategic Computing Complex at LANL
$5.3 million for construction of a Joint Computational Engineering Lab at Sandia
$2 million for operation and maintenance at Sandia’s Microsystems and Engineering Sciences Applications (MESA) project.
$5 million for operation and maintenance at Sandia’s Model Validation and System Certification Center
$9.6 million for the Stockpile Management Restructuring Initiative, Nuclear Material Safeguards and Security Upgrades Project at LANL
$35.8 million for the Nonproliferation and International Security Center(NISC) at LANL
—30— |
|
|
|
|
|