Funding Will Benefit Fort Hood, Texas A&M System, University of Texas, City of Austin

Washington, D.C., Jul 25, 2007 -  

Representative John Carter (TX-31), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that funding has been included in the 2008 Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill for a number of projects that will benefit the 31^st District. The bill is scheduled to be voted on next week.

“I remain committed to providing our military with the tools and resources they need to successfully serve and protect America,” Congressman Carter said. “I am pleased to have secured funding for critical projects that enhance our nation’s defense. By funding operation and maintenance, as well as research and development projects, we can ensure that our military remains the best and strongest in the world.”

Congressman Carter worked to secure funding for the following projects that benefit Central Texas:

· $3 million for Fort Hood Training Lands Restoration. This funding will be used to rehabilitate training lands on Fort Hood through a program that reduces soil erosion and compaction, increases vegetation, fills gullies, constructs sediment traps, and provides appropriate stream-crossing and hilltop access points for vehicles. In addition, this program will verify the effectiveness of training land rehabilitation efforts.

· $2 million for High Optemo Performance Soldier Training to University of Texas. This funding will be used for critical research of soldiers in conditions of stress and fatigue in order to create recommendations that will result in improved soldier performance and their ability to survive in high stress situations.

· $1 million to Fort Hood, the University of Texas, and Texas A&M for digitization support. This program has provided high-end technical support for the problems encountered during the transformation of the Army’s digitization program.

· $3 million to Applied Physical Electronics in Austin for funding to be used for continued development of the Electro-Magnetic Flak Impulse System to mitigate terrorist activities and will specifically be used to hire an additional 15 highly skilled professional engineers and supporting staff

· $10 million to the Department of Defense’s Neurofibromatosis Research Program that will benefit nearly 175 million Americans who suffer from related disorders such as cancer, heart disease, learning disabilities, memory loss and brain tumors.

Carter also was successful in inserting critical language to the bill that would encourage the Army to explore Continuously Variable Planetary (CVP) Design for Commonality Across Platforms and Applications technology which is designed to greatly reduce ware and tear on vehicle transmissions.

· Additional $1.25 billion for Army facilities sustainment and restoration.

· $2.9 billion for military’s family advocacy programs such as counseling, education and support to military families affected by the demands of war.

· Provides funds for an additional 7,000 Army soldiers, 1,300 Army National Guard and 5,000 Marines.