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July 22, 2010

Bennett Helps Secure $1.9 Billion for New NASA Launch Vehicle, Saving Thousands of Utah Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) announced today the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $1.9 billion for a new space launch vehicle system that will use solid rocket motors as a core technology for an integrated heavy lift rocket. Solid rocket motors for NASA’s new launch vehicle will be produced in Utah, protecting thousands of jobs there that were expected to be lost with the retirement of the Space Shuttle.

“This legislation is not only significant because it rejects President Obama’s failed vision for human spaceflight, but is also a major step toward preserving the solid rocket industrial base and thousands of jobs in Utah,” said Bennett, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “The continued strength of this program allows the ability to send astronauts safely into space, maintain national security, and sustain the United State’s preeminence in space exploration.”

 Also in the bill is another $6.25 million Bennett requested for juvenile outreach, crime prevention technology, and global climate monitoring programs in Utah.

Additional Bennett requested projects in the bill include:

Utah Law Enforcement Technology Improvement Initiative- $915,000

Funding will be used to establish a primary communication intercept "access point" in Salt Lake County and a linked, secondary "collection point" in Utah County, thereby establishing a system that can be simply and inexpensively expanded to include permanent collection points for law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Salt Lake Chief’s Alliance Forensic/DNA Lab and Evidence Processing Facility— $750,000

Funding for this project will be used to facilitate the consolidation of evidence collection/storage/processing, essential forensic examinations and DNA laboratory for participating Alliance agencies into one building. The Salt Lake metropolitan communities collect an enormous amount of evidentiary items and the Utah State Crime Lab has placed restrictions on what can be submitted and what process that lab will complete. This facility will reduce costs and increase law enforcement effectiveness in the listed communities.

Shelter and Residence for Women and Children-$485,000

The funding for this project will go toward a major capital expansion to double the size of the YWCA’s downtown Salt Lake City campus over the next three years to help serve 50% more women and children in need. The funds will also aid in ensuring optimal staffing and program funding.

Cybercrime Detection and Computer Support Training-$400,000

The project will provide technical training in cybercrime detection, intervention, and prosecution of cybercrime through the Southwest Regional Criminal Justice Computer Crime Institute, located on the campus of Dixie State College of Utah.

 

The National Crime Map Expansion-$300,000

The funding for this project will be used to expand the availability of incident level crime data available to the general public at the neighborhood level within 24 hours of occurrence. The National Crime Map currently includes more than 800 law enforcement agencies across the country.

 

Police Technology, Taylorsville- $250,000

The funding for this will allow the Taylorsville Police Department to procure upgrades to allow for more effective use of technology, including Crime Analysis Software, E-Ticketing Solutions, an Automated Vehicle Location system and personnel Time Management System.

Pete Suazo Center, City of South Salt Lake-$100,000

To meet the community needs of targeting programs towards high school age children and successfully intervening in the lives of gang involved and at-risk youth, the Pete Suazo Center will use this funding to support operational expenses, purchase supplies and equipment, and staff the center with qualified personnel.

National Crime Victim Law Institute-$2,500,000

This funding will be used for the National Crime Victims Law Institute to continue its work and run related clinics. The clinic is located at the University of Utah actively promotes balance and fairness in the justice system through crime victim centered legal advocacy, education, and resource sharing.

 

Child Abuse Training Programs for Judicial Personnel, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)-$150,000

This project supplements the Child Abuse and Neglect Training for Judicial Personnel and Practitioners Project and enables the NCJFCJ to move the Model Courts project forward to the next level of system reform implementation.

Judicial Training, Research and Technical Assistance Project, NCJFCJ-$150,000

The NCJFCJ Judicial Training, Research and Technical Assistance Project strives to improve system effectiveness and judicial decision-making for children and their families in cases involving juvenile delinquency and child abuse and neglect through support of four national programs which provide courts and system professionals state-of-the-art information, training and research.

Gang Prevention Initiative, City of Holladay-$100,000

Federal funds will be used to purchase a series of wireless, portable cameras that can be mounted covertly and monitored via the Internet to identify perpetrators of gang activity and gang-related crime, and ultimately deter such crimes from occurring.

Great Salt Lake Institute, Westminster College-$150,000

Westminster College will receive federal support for the Great Salt Lake Institute (GSLI) to develop research programs and purchase equipment to study the Great Salt Lake. It is important that this national treasure is studied and understood, so that the innovations that come from unique microbes within its waters can lead to new commercial applications and that the delicate ecosystem that it hosts is preserved.

The spending measure is now placed on the Senate calendar and will be considered at a later date. Once passed by the Senate, the House and Senate will reconcile the differences between the two bills before voting on final passage.

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http://bennett.senate.gov