(Washington, DC): -- Congressman Michael R. McNulty (D-Green Island) has announced that the Fiscal Year 2008 Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill, approved last night in the House of Representatives, includes more than $18 million in funding for seven important Capital Region projects.

The Senate must now pass the bill before it is sent to the White House for the President's review. The projects included in the bill, and proposed funding levels, are:

$2 million for the NanoSensor StageGate Accelerator (NSSA) project at the Watervliet Arsenal Partnership
This project will develop and commercialize nanotechnology-enabled products in support of the U.S. Army's transformation into a lighter, more agile force. The project would integrate technological, infrastructure, financial, and market development resources for developing nanotechnology for sensors, actuators, and protective coatings/materials in harsh environments.

$2 million for a 76mm Super Rapid Medium Caliber Gun System Explosive Safety Review at the Watervliet Arsenal
The 76mmSuper Rapid gun is a medium-caliber weapon that defends against air and surface threats. It has extensive range and is highly effective against static and moving threats while providing missile-like capability. Funding will be used to continue Navy testing of the gun system. Full production of this gun would have a significant positive economic impact on the 21st District and specifically the Watervliet Arsenal who would be responsible for the manufacturing of the barrel of this gun.

$3.189 million for the Arsenal Support Program Initiative at the Watervliet Arsenal Partnership
Arsenal Support Program Initiative (ASPI) funding is critical to maintaining the viability of the Army manufacturing arsenals and the unique capability of the Watervliet Arsenal in supporting the national security interests of the United States. The funds will used by the Arsenal to market its unused space and improve the facility's ability to generate greater workload and attract new businesses to the Arsenal Partnership.

$4 million for the C9 Corporation for Hybrid Electric Combat Vehicle development project
The C9 Corporation, a New York State-based semiconductor and solar company will utilize this funding to continue to develop the Silicon-Carbide type materials for the Department of Defense Future Combat System Hybrid Electric Vehicle and Advanced Power System Program. Utilizing these materials has the potential to increase combat effectiveness by providing advantages in speed, higher equipment operating temperatures, and higher equipment voltage ratings. C9 has just signed a lease with the Arsenal Partnership to locate an office at the Watervliet Arsenal.

$2 million for Thermal imaging equipment upgrades for NY Army National Guard helicopters
Funding will be used for product development on the thermal imaging systems on UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters. The NY Army National Guard Blackhawks play an integral role in supporting state emergency response missions to include Search and Rescue, Homeland Security Missions, and Medevac, when needed. Thermal imaging equipment upgrades would will give these aircrafts the ability to operate in day/night and adverse weather conditions.

$2 million for SUNY Cobleskill for a Bio-Waste to Bio-Energy project
Funding will be used to develop a bio-waste to bio-energy center that will conduct research on a process that creates clean energy through the conversion of organic waste. This process has the potential to significantly reduce the military's need to transport fuel and waste during combat operations by converting biowaste to liquid fuel or electricity.

Last year McNulty, Sen. Schumer, and Sen. Clinton obtained $1,000,000 for SUNY Cobleskill within the FY 2007 Defense Appropriations bill for Phase I of the four-phase project to develop a bio-waste to bio-energy center. This year's funding will be used to begin Phase Two of the project, which will include the manufacture and installation of a one megawatt gasifier, followed by continuous operation of the bio-energy center for one year to study production and operating procedures. $1,300,000 for this project is also included in the House passed version of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

$3 million for a Smart Machine Platform Initiative at the Benet Laboratories
As the Army moves towards lighter and more agile vehicles, it is critical that components can be fabricated domestically both for development and production needs in a timely and affordable manner. In order to accomplish this goal, the next generation of machinery must not only execute instructions, they must also possess complex internal sensing and control systems to create instructions and integrate them, in real time, into manufacturing processes. This initiative will develop systems that will allow machine tools to perform self assessment, self programming, self diagnostics, self scheduling, and in process monitoring.

# # #