McHugh: Defense Bills Include Projects for Northern New York

Press Release

U.S. Congressman John M. McHugh (R-Pierrepont Manor) announced that projects providing direct benefit to the 23rd Congressional District were included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of Fiscal Year 2009 and the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act 2009. The House of Representatives voted on the authorization and appropriations bills today, both of which passed overwhelmingly. Congressman McHugh serves as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Military Personnel and is a senior Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness.

"Overall, the defense authorization and appropriations that were approved today provide very real benefit to our troops and their families. This was the result of a good deal of bipartisanship and hard work in a short amount of time. I am particularly pleased that the bills include significant funding for Fort Drum and our region, and will allow important projects to be undertaken by the Trudeau Institute, Clarkson University, and SUNY Plattsburgh. As a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, supporting our military has continued to be a top priority for me since I began serving in Congress in 1993," said Congressman McHugh. "It was critically important, even in light of the significant other challenges this country is facing, that the House and Senate come together and pass a defense bill to take these meaningful steps forward in support of our troops."

The NDAA reconciles the House and Senate versions of the individual defense authorization bills that passed each body separately earlier this year. Traditionally, the House would vote first on the NDAA - giving approval to the list of projects and funding - and then vote on the appropriations bill which allocates the final funding level. This year, the mismatch between the bills occurred based on the extraordinary pressures on the federal government. Both bills will now go to the Senate for approval.

Specific projects that will benefit the 23rd District of New York:

* Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization - the NDAA authorized $800,000 to support the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization and the project was appropriated at $640,000.
* Trudeau Institute - the NDAA authorized $2 million to the Trudeau Institute for the U.S. Navy Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Program and the project was appropriated at $1,600,000.
* Clarkson University - the NDAA authorized $2 million for a research project at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, that will seek significant improvement in the efficiency of photovoltaic (solar cell) technology. Improved solar cells to power military communications equipment and other electronic applications will replace heavy battery packs that degrade unit mobility and generators, whose heat signatures reveal troop locations. The project was appropriated at $1,600,000.
* State University of New York at Plattsburgh - the appropriations bill provided $1,280,000 in funding to SUNY Plattsburgh's Auditory Research Laboratory to study the use of drugs to reduce hearing loss following acute acoustic trauma. The laboratory is one of the few in the U.S. dedicated to this type of research, which could assist troops suffering from hearing loss. Acute blast exposure is a serious problem in current military operations, resulting in disability status for large number of personnel.

Base Enhancement Projects at Fort Drum:

* Fire station at Fort Drum - the NDAA and Consolidated Appropriations Act provides $6.9 million to construct a new Number Two Fire Station at Fort Drum, New York, which will be used to help meet installation health and safety requirements.
* Brigade Complex - Barracks - the NDAA and Consolidated Appropriations Act provides a total of $54 million for barracks at Fort Drum.
* Unit Maintenance Facilities - the NDAA and Consolidated Appropriations Act provides $37 million for Unit Maintenance Facilities at Fort Drum.
* Maneuver Area Training Equip Site PH3 (for the Army Guard) - the NDAA and Consolidated Appropriations Act provides $11 million for a Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site for the Army Guard.

Highlights of the Overall Defense Authorization Bill:

* $531.4 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.
* An additional $70 billion in supplemental funding to support the Global War on Terrorism's operational costs, personnel expenses and procurement of new equipment for the first few months of Fiscal Year 2009.
* A 3.9% pay raise for all members of the Armed Forces in 2008.
* Additional increases of 7,000 Army and 5,000 Marine Corps active duty personnel to sustain our required missions.
* Extends the prohibition the committee enacted last year on increases to TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Standard.
* Extends the prohibition the committee enacted last year on retail pharmacy cost share increases.
* Additional funding for force protection needs in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, including $1.7 billion for state-of-the-art Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.
* $2.1 billion for an additional 6 C-17's to support intra-theater airlift requirements and meet the airlift needs for the increased end strength in the Army and Marine Corps.
* $2.9 billion for 20 additional F-22A aircraft in 2009 and $523 million in advanced procurement funding for 20 additional aircraft in 2010.
* Restores $309 million for missile defense that was cut in the House-version of the defense bill, including the restoration of $124 million for European missile defense interceptors and radars.
* An additional $800 million for National Guard equipment. The final legislation also increases full-time manning for the Army National Guard to 32,060 and the Air National Guard to 14,360.
* Enhances certain Department of Defense authorities to train and equip foreign forces, lend needed equipment to coalition partners, provide limited funds to the Department of State for security and stabilization efforts, and allow Defense Department officials to work more closely with their foreign counterparts.
* Authorizes multi-year procurement authority and advanced construction for the Virginia-class submarine program and provides an additional $300 million for advanced procurement of long lead items, enabling a smoother acceleration to construction of 2 hulls per year.

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