Washington, D.C. - Last night U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted in favor of the Department of Defense Appropriations Conference Report for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5631).  The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 394 to 22. 

The bill provides $447.6 billion in funds for our national defense, including $70 billion in emergency supplemental spending to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The final bill also includes the funds for a 2.2 percent pay raise for military personnel. 

Larsen highlighted the following provisions of the bill that will impact Washington state:

EA-18G Growler Program
The final defense spending bill allocates $608 million for eight EA-18G aircraft that will be housed at NAS Whidbey Island.  Following House consideration of the defense bill earlier this year, the House Appropriations committee cut funding from the Navy’s request for 12 new EA-18G aircraft, delaying the program by one year.  Larsen fought to restore full funding for the Growlers.

“This is a huge victory.  While I’m disappointed that we were not able to restore funds for all twelve Growlers, securing funds for eight of these aircraft should keep the Growler program on track.” 

“The EA-18G Growler will be the premier electronic attack platform for our Armed Forces.  The Growler’s exciting new capabilities will greatly improve the protection of our forces in the sky and on the ground.”

The EA-18G Growler is slated to replace the existing EA-6B Prowler which is a key asset for our nation’s defense and is our military’s primary airborne electronic attack asset.

Multi-Mission Aircraft
The final defense spending bill allocates $1.13 billion for the development of the P8-A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft, a surveillance plane that will replace the aging fleet of P-3 Orion aircraft.  Many of the current P-3 Orion aircraft are currently based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Representative for Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, I look forward to replacing the aging fleet of P-3 aircraft,” said Larsen.  “I will continue to work with the Navy to ensure that the new P8-A has a home at NAS Whidbey.”

Funding for Local Businesses
The final defense spending bill includes funding for programs that will benefit local corporations like Intermec Technologies Corp. (Everett, WA), CombiMatrix Corp. (Mukilteo, WA) and Puget Sound Rope (Anacortes, WA).

Specializing in technologies that identify, track and manage supply chain assets, Intermec Corp. should receive $1 million for the Navy’s Serial Number Tracking System program.  Intermec championed the technology used for web-based, “cradle-to-grave” tracking of individual aircraft components utilized by the Navy.

CombiMatrix Corp. should see funding from a $1 million allocation included in the bill for an Immunochemical Biological/Chemical Agent Detection System.

In addition, Puget Sound Rope should receive $1 million to conduct a one-year test to assess if their new 12-strand Reduced Recoil Rope will meet or exceed performance standards specified by the U.S. Navy.