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| Defense Funding To Include KAFB Programs |
October 06, 1999 |
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| WASHINGTON -- Congresswoman Heather Wilson today announced that the fiscal year 2000 Department of Defense Appropriations Act will include funding of $27.2 million for the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), $19.4 million for the Theater Air Command and Control Simulation Facility (TACCSF), $147.1 million for the Phillips Lab Exploratory Development Program, and $308.6 million for the Airborne Laser Program (ABL), all of which are based at Kirtland Air Force Base.
"These funding levels are not as strong as I had requested and worked through the House, but I am pleased that we were able to strengthen these important programs," Wilson said. "We need to keep missions strong at Kirtland. These programs are vital for America's 21st-century security. I urge President Clinton to sign the bill into law and begin restoring national defense."
AFOTEC is the Air Force's independent test agency responsible for testing new systems acquired and developed for Air Force and multi-service use under operationally realistic conditions. TACCSF provides state-of-the-art simulations of several Air Force and Army sensors and weapon systems. It is the only facility in the Air Force that can train, test, analyze and refine tactics, techniques and procedures in a fully integrated, real-time environment. The Airborne Laser program will operate above the clouds to destroy hostile theater missiles with a multi-megawatt chemical laser while the missiles are still in the boost phase. The system will be operational in 2002.
Funding for AFOTEC is $3.4 million more than the President requested. TACCSF was funded at $14 million above the President's request. The ABL received $41.4 million for than last year.
In July, Wilson secured $14 million in funding for reconstruction of the ramps and runways in the Military Construction Appropriations bill. President Clinton enacted it into law into law on August 17, 1999.
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