| (Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, late Tuesday night voted in favor of the FY2007 Defense Appropriations Act, reaffirming his commitment to the nation’s military. H.R. 5631 passed by a vote of 394-22.
“This bill will ensure that our men and women in uniform have access to the technology, resources and equipment needed to succeed in their missions throughout the world,” said Langevin. “It is critical we continue to fund our military’s procurement and research and development so we can maintain the best fighting force in the world.”
The measure provides $447.6 billion for the Department of Defense and defense-related programs. The following is a list of projects included in H.R. 5631, requested by Langevin that will benefit Rhode Island's defense industry:
$2.5 billion for the next VIRGINIA-Class submarine.
$2.6 billion to begin construction of 2 DDG-1000s, the Navy's next-generation destroyer. DDG-1000, formerly known as DD(X), is a vital component of the Navy’s transformational surface fleet and its technology will be used for the Navy’s future class of ships.
$9 million for a Large Aperture Bow Array modification for VIRGINIA-Class that will significantly reduce submarine construction and system acquisition costs, provide improved sonar performance and carry additional payloads.
$6.75 million for development of the Flexible Payload Module and VIRGINIA Payload Interface Module. The FPM will house Tomahawk vertical missiles within the free-flooding forward non-pressure hull. PIM is the shipboard structure and the standardized interface to the ship, which is essential for integration of payloads and sensors using an FPM. This development will lower ship acquisition costs and will significantly increase the ship’s flexibility to accommodate future payload alternatives.
$2.2 million for Project Athena a maritime security, coastal surveillance system capable of monitoring waterborne traffic and the maritime domain. (Congressman Kennedy also supported this request.)
$1 million for Brown University’s development of a Physical and Behavioral Rehabilitation Using Virtual Reality & Motion Analysis to establish cutting-edge technology to provide an integrated approach to assessing both physical and mental combat-related disabilities and establishing comprehensive treatment options.
$2.4 million for the High Energy Laser – Directed Energy Weapon (HEL-DEW), which has enormous potential in enabling war-fighter airborne, marine, and ground platforms to precisely deliver combat effects while minimizing collateral damage. They also have the potential to revolutionize aircraft, vessel, and vehicle self-protection capability against a spectrum of threats ranging from simple rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices to sophisticated sea-skimming missiles.
“These projects will help Rhode Island’s defense industry to continue to thrive for years to come as each project designer or manufacturer has ties to the state,” said Langevin. “I am pleased that my colleagues in Congress understand how important these projects are not only to the Ocean State, but to our national defense.”
This appropriations legislation also contains:
$70 billion in emergency supplemental funding for the war on terrorism
$119.8 billion for operations and maintenance
$80.9 billion for weapons procurement
$86.4 billion for personnel costs
$75.7 billion for research and development-30-
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