WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today announced that the FY 2005 Department of Defense Appropriations conference report, which includes several Missouri projects, passed last night in the House of Representatives with her vote, 410-12.  The conference report also passed the Senate and will now proceed to the White House for President Bush’s signature.

 

The bill contains funds totaling $21,350,000 for four Southern Missouri projects at three
locations: Engineered Support Systems (West Plains); the University of Missouri-Rolla; and Brewer Science (Rolla).

 

“In Southern Missouri, we are helping to keep the world safe from terrorism in many ways.  Our sons and daughters in uniform are securing and stabilizing the Middle East.  We are working together on the home front, too.  Our research institutions and manufacturing facilities are making great strides to help the cause of freedom in the world,” Emerson said.

 

“The contracts in this bill are going to Missouri grantees who have a long track record of cutting-edge work in their fields and have earned the right to contribute to our nation’s cause.  We all take pride in their work and congratulate them on securing these funds.  Every new technology, every added protection we can give to our troops in the field is worthwhile,” Emerson added.

 

Emerson, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, was a leading advocate for projects to strengthen America’s armed forces.  She worked closely with her colleagues on the committee, in the House of Representatives, and with Missouri Senator Kit Bond, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 

“I would like to especially thank Senator Bond for his tireless advocacy of these projects because he is very aware of their importance to Southern Missouri.  These federal funds will not only improve the state of the best trained and equipped military in the world, it will also mean jobs back home.  I’m very pleased Southern Missouri’s commitment to our troops has been recognized in this way.”

 

Descriptions of the Eighth Congressional District projects in the Department of Defense
Appropriations Bill, H.R. 4613, are listed below.

 

Engineered Support Systems, West Plains
Chemical, Biological Protective Shelter Retrofit Kits                             $14,250,000

 

The funds made available through this appropriation will aid ESSI in the improvement of highly mobile, self contained systems which provide a 300 square foot contamination-free, environmentally-controlled work area for emergency medical use in forward battle areas.  Two soldiers can erect the tent in six minutes and a medical facility can be operational in less than 20 minutes.

 

 

This project is conducted in conjunction with Kontek Industries (New Madrid, MO) to meet the needs of DoD and other agencies to protect key personnel and facilities against terrorist bomb threats.  This project includes a 3-D virtual-reality design and simulation suite which will allow for explosion modeling.  Kontek will build the structures to be used in testing and simulation.

 

 

Because of a critical need for faster and more affordable methods of producing accurate, reliable, high performance aerospace components, the University of Missouri-Rolla will partner with Boeing Phantom Works to research and develop new manufacturing technologies for metals and composites.

 

 

MEMS technology originally developed as an offshoot of integrated circuit or microchip
technology.  The same microlithographic techniques used to fabricate microprocessor, memory, logic, and application-specific computer chips are used to create MEMS and will likely remain the prevailing method of fabrication.  Brewer Science, Inc., will develop protective coating for harsh silicon etching processes, planarization coatings for severe device topography, and new processes for patterning over deep trench structures.