Kildee Reserves $3.4 Million for Mott & Kettering

Washington, D.C. - Representative Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced that $3.4 million has been approved to fund projects at Mott Community College and Kettering University in the conference report of the Defense Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2008.  At Kildee’s request, the bill will provide $2.4 million for the Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Strategies (IAMMS) at Mott Community College and $1 million for Kettering’s Chemical Warfare Agent Fate Program. 

“Mott Community College and Kettering University will continue to play a key role in ensuring the safety of the men and women who serve in our armed forces by keeping them equipped with the most advanced products,” said Kildee.  “This funding affirms that they remain top priorities for our military.”

The IAMMS project at Mott will receive $2.4 million to establish a demonstration site to feature new developments in advanced manufacturing methods and materials for the production of innovative products required by the military.  IAMMS will promote the use of lighter, stronger, and more corrosion-resistant materials to improve the design and long term viability of military land vehicles.  The Institute will use virtual tools to evaluate potential manufacturing solutions including high-speed machining, and laser and water jet cutting.

Kettering University is a key partner in the U.S. Department of Defense’s Agent Fate Program, which uses indoor and outdoor experiments to help better protect our troops against chemical warfare agents in the field.  The program, now in its second phase, develops computer models that can accurately predict how long the chemicals will remain harmful after they are deployed. 

Agent Fate data has already begun to show positive effects for military operations.  The U.S. Air Force has utilized new advancements in the physical transfers of chemical weapons.  Agent Fate will allow military planners to take full advantage of the data to evaluate conditions in the contaminated environments in which they must operate.  The funding is included in the Chemical and Biological Defense Program budget for the Department of Defense.

“Research conducted at world class institutions right here in Flint will assist our military men and women in the field, will enable them to recover more quickly from wartime injuries and chemical threats, and it will make our citizens safer here at home,” said Rep. Kildee.

Federal funding for the projects must be approved by the Senate and the President to be appropriated.