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Washington, D.C. - As part of his ongoing effort to support local defense contractors and researchers as well as boost the local economy, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that an agreement has been reached in Congress to allocate $639.2 million for defense projects based in the Southern Tier. Hinchey, who is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, requested the funding for local defense contractors and researchers. The House is expected to approve the agreement on the funds later today and the Senate is poised to approve the measure later this week. The funds are part of the Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2007 and include: $632.6 million for Lockheed Martin's Marine One project; $2.5 million for tents such as those produced by Johnson Outdoors, $2.5 million for Susquehanna Resources and Environment, and $1.1 million for Binghamton University's Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing.
"I am pleased to help bring home a significant amount of federal dollars for important defense projects in the Southern Tier. These funds will help provide our military and the commander in chief with the finest technology and gear available. Additionally, the funds will help boost the local economy and further cement the Southern Tier as a leader in defense contracting," Hinchey said.
"While I am disappointed that the Senate failed to allocate as much for these projects as we secured in the House, which ultimately resulted in cuts below the House-funded levels, the final allocations still mark a very significant investment in the Southern Tier's defense industry."
The breakdown of the $639.2 million in Southern Tier defense projects included in the appropriations bill is:
$632.6 million for Lockheed Martin in Owego, NY -- The funds are the second major installment of federal dollars for the new Marine One helicopter contract. In January 2005, the U.S. Navy awarded the next Marine One Presidential Executive Transport helicopter contract to Team U.S. 101, led by Lockheed Martin - Owego. Hinchey and other members of the New York congressional delegation lobbied the Pentagon persistently to ensure that Lockheed would win the Marine One contract.
$2.5 million for Johnson Outdoors in Binghamton, NY -- The funds will be used to ensure steady production of tents for military personnel, maintaining a domestic supply essential to our national security. Of the $2.5 million allocation, $1.65 million will be used for the Marines and $1.1 million will be used for the Army. While Johnson Outdoors still needs to bid for future contracts to use these funds, the company has a long-standing relationship with the Department of Defense, which puts it in a very good position to win those awards.
$2.5 million for Susquehanna Resources and Environment in Binghamton, NY -- The money will allow for the continued development and implementation of the company's IMaG Plus ATC system, which will allow the Army to search and retrieve information for constant combat support and situation analysis by human analysts. The Army intelligence community is familiar with the IMaG system, and has tested it extensively.
$1.1 million for Binghamton University's Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing -- These funds will allow for the development of microelectronic products for the combat field that can be produced in large quantities at a low cost. Through this technology, BU will develop microelectronic devices that can provide communications, health monitoring, battlefield awareness, and portable power to every foot soldier in a rugged, light-weight electronic package.
After the Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2007 is approved in the House tonight and in the Senate later this week, the measure then moves to the White House where the president is expected to sign the measure into law.
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