Dodd, Lieberman Hail Passage of Critical Funding For Connecticut's Defense and Submarine Industries

Press Release

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced that the final passage of the 2008 Defense Appropriations Conference Report includes substantial funding for Connecticut's defense industry. The bill, which was signed into law today by President Bush, contains significant additional funds that will increase submarine production to two submarines per year by 2010 - two years earlier than originally planned by the Navy. This funding will impact thousands of jobs throughout Connecticut, especially in the southeast region of the state. The bill also includes substantial investments in current defense systems and research and development activities to ensure U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are outfitted with the quality resources they need to perform their missions.

"Today is a new day for national security," said Dodd. "The submarine is finally getting the credit it deserves as a critical component of our nation's defense. This bill is a vote of confidence in the workers of Connecticut who make the equipment that our military depends on to keep our nation safe. In the face of the Bush Administration's objections, this legislation represents an investment in industries and technologies critical to our national security."

"The funding for a second submarine has been an extended battle for Connecticut, and today we declare victory. The additional submarine will fortify Connecticut jobs, and will make the entire country safer," stated Lieberman. "I am also extremely proud of the long list of defense research and development dollars for Connecticut that are included in this bill. The number of projects we were able to include in the bill is testimony to the strength of the high tech defense industry in our state. This funding will go a long way in keeping high paying jobs in Connecticut. This bill also keeps faith with our men and women in uniform, including many from Connecticut, by improving their pay and quality of life, their equipment, and the health care they need and deserve."

Funding in the Defense Appropriations bill will be used to provide military equipment, ranging from ground vehicles, aircraft, and naval ships, and to support various advances in technology development and troop protection. The following projects will be supported by the defense appropriations provided in this bill:

Groton

Electric Boat
- $3.1 billion for VIRGINIA Class attack submarines including an additional $588 million above President's request to begin advance procurement of materials to increase production to 2 submarines per year by 2010; two years earlier than current Navy plans.
- $5 million for an undersea launch missile study to help begin development of new class of strategic missile submarines.

Stratford

Sikorsky
- $ 2.0 billion for 97 UH-60 Blackhawk Army and Navy variant helicopters; which includes $182 million above the President's request for 10 additional Army Blackhawk helicopters.
- $397 million to continue developing the CH-53K Super Stallion helicopter for the next-generation Marine Corps Heavy Lift helicopter.

Middletown

Pratt and Whitney
- $3.6 billion for the procurement of 20 F/A-22 Raptor Air Force fighter jets which are powered by Pratt and Whitney engines.
- $6.7 billion for the procurement of 12 Joint Strike Fighters and for continued research and development of the new aircraft which will be outfitted with Pratt and Whitney engines.
- $442.3 million for the procurement and continued development of the C-17 Globemaster III Tactical Airlift Aircraft which are outfitted with Pratt and Whitney engines.
- $5 million for the Metals Affordability Initiative Consortium, of which Pratt and Whitney participates in the research and development of advanced metal machining methods.

Bloomfield

Kaman Aerospace
- $2 million for the research and development of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Resupply (BURRO) craft
- $1.6 million for the research and development of composite small rotor blades

Branford

Invitrogen
- $1 million for the research and development of the multi-purpose biodefense immunoarray

Oxley
- $2 million for the research and development of a future medical shelter system

Bridgeport

Fermont
- $111.5 million for Army tactical quiet generators, of which Fermont is a major supplier

Danbury

DRS
- $9 million for the research and development of the next generation Destroyer advanced magnet motor system
- $400,000 for research and development of a solid-state direct circuit protection system for military applications

Electro Energy
- $2 million for the research and development of the bi-polar wafer-cell nickel metal hydride aircraft battery

FuelCell Energy
- $3.2 million for the continued development of a 1 Megawatt Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Demonstrator.
- $1.6 million for advanced defense applications for Carbonate Fuel Cells

Goodrich
- $1.6 million for research and development of terahertz spectrometer technology for hazardous substance detection

Enfield

Specialized Technology Resources
- $2.4 million for the increased domestic production of photovoltaic solar cell encapsulants, which is a key component in the production of advanced solar cells

Fairfield

Z-Medica
- $3.2 million for research and development of advanced hemostatic agents

Greenwich

Airship Management Services
- $1.6 million for research and development of a coastal airship surveillence demonstrator

Hartford

UTC
- $3.2 million for the research and development of a hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator for medium/heavy duty vehicles
- $2 million for the research and development of high temperature ceramic manufacturing technology critical for preventing helicopter rotor blade erosion

New Haven

VaxInnate
- $2.4 million for the research and development of a synthetic malaria vaccine

Yale New Haven Health System
- $2 million for the National Center for Integrated Civilian-Military Domestic Disaster Medical Response

New London

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
- $7 million increase in the funding for a procurement assistance centers which assist small businesses in securing Department of Defense contracts

Stratcor
- $3 million for development of a Vanadium Safety Readiness program for the Defense Health Program

North Haven

Precision Combustion
- $2.4 million for research and development of an Advanced Logistics Fuel Reform for Fuel Cells

Pomfret

Fiberoptic Technology
- $6 million for research and development of the Marine Corps Advanced Precision Weapons Kill System (APKWS).

Simsbury

Ensign-Bickford
- $4 million for the research and development of the soldier portable solid fuel hydrogen generator cartridge

South Windsor

Capewell
- $1.6 million for the research and development of precision airdrop technology

Pioneer Aerospace
- $1 million for the research and development of a next generation fighter aircraft ejection seat

Stonington

Chesapeake Sciences Corp
- $3.2 million for the research and development of an advanced submarine towed sonar array

Storrs

University of Connecticut
- $1.6 million for the research and development of advanced implantable nano-sensors to track soldier health

Thomaston

Treadwell
- $800,000 for the research and development of a next-generation oxygen generation system

Wallingford

Distributed Energy Systems
- $3 million for the research and development of a regenerative fuel cell system

Waterbury

Luvata
- $1.6 million for a Copper Air Quality Program

West Hartford

Goodrich PECS
- $3 million for the research and development of advanced engine controls for Army helicopters
- $1.6 million for the research and development of the thermally efficient unmanned aerial vehicle fuel pumping system

Colt Defense
- $105.8 million for Army procurement of the M-4 Carbine rifle

Windsor

Aero-Gear
- $1 million for the research and development of the legacy Aero-space gear drive re-engineering initiative

Windsor Locks

Hamilton Sundstrand
- $809 million for the research and development of the E2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft which will be outfitted with propeller hubs and composite propellers manufactured by Hamilton Sunstrand

In addition to the many Connecticut defense initiatives, Senators Dodd and Lieberman also lauded the inclusion of funding for the following efforts in the Defense Appropriations bill:

- $228 million for cancer research initiatives
- $5 million for Impact Aid for Children with Disabilities
- $8 million for University Research Initiatives
- $16 million for Defense-wide manufacturing science and technology programs
- $1.6 million for the One Soul Holocaust Education Exhibit

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