Congressman Salazar's Funding Priorities for Defense

As a new member of the Appropriations Committee, I have new oversight responsibilities for the spending of federal dollars, as well as an increased role in the prioritization of federal spending.

For too long, the process of Congressional funding requests lacked transparency and accountability, leading some members of Congress to abuse it and the public trust. Since assuming the majority in 2007, Congressional Democrats have significantly reformed the process, including ensuring that every American can easily determine which member of Congress has submitted a requests.

Below you will find a list of my funding requests for the Defense Appropriations bill.

Vet-Biz Initiative for National Sustainment (VINS) at the Navy
$5.9 million
Pueblo Economic Development Corporation
301 North Main Street, P.O. Box 1957
Pueblo, CO 81002
Explanation: The project will help the Navy meet its goal of 3% of all contracts going to Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSBs). As a result, the Pueblo Economic Development Council projects that additional funding will preserve jobs currently serving the initiative, at the same time allowing other SDVOSBs to gain additional work. The Vet-Biz Initiative for National Sustainment (VINS) at the Navy provides funding for Service-Disabled Veteran Owner Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) in Colorado to supply the spare parts for deployed Naval Aviation systems. The Navy has a documented challenge in securing parts and components for older systems, thus endangering troops and limiting the use of existing weapons systems.

Deployable Joint Command and Control (DJC2) Shelter Upgrade Program
$4 million
Weatherport/Alaska Structures
1860 1600 Road
Delta, CO 81416
Explanation: The allocation of funds to replace the outdated shelters utilized by the Deployable Joint Command and Control will help to maintain over 150 jobs for employees who specialize in such projects. Workers will replace outdated shelters by building more efficient systems, thereby increasing the service life of such shelters from three years to 10 years. DJC2 is a Department of Defense transformation initiative that provides a standardized, integrated, rapidly deployable, modular, scalable, and reconfigurable Joint Operations Command system to combatant commanders throughout the world.

SupportNet for Frontline Providers for Traumatic Stress at Ft. Carson
$3 million
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) Trauma Health and Hazards Center
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80933
Explanation: The Trauma, Health, and Hazards Center (THHC) at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), in seeking funding for the implementation of SupportNet, a comprehensive behavioral health center for service personnel at Ft. Carson, would create numerous jobs within the area. Positions directly funded for this project include a director, six therapists, a researcher, and support staff at Ft. Carson, and a web designer, graduate student researchers, and support staff at UCCS. Job preservation for service personnel at Ft. Carson will be positively influenced, as members of the community will be able to seek treatment for mental health problems that can interfere with successful job performance. SupportNet, a program of the Trauma, Health, and Hazards Center (THHC) at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, will provide comprehensive support for the behavioral health employees treating mental health problems among service personnel at Fort Carson, CO. The Command staff at Fort Carson, CO believes this project would provide a positive addition to their behavioral health services.

The Returning Warrior and Family Engagement Program
$2.95 million
Pikes Peak Mental Health
2864 South Circle Drive Suite 620, Phoenix Tower
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
The purpose of this project is to engage thousands of returning warriors and their families who are encountering difficulties, and to help facilitate their integration back into civilian life through use of telephonic and web based coaching tools. This program will have a positive impact on the overwhelming need for men and women of the National Guard and Reserves to successfully transition back to civilian life and best position them mentally and physically to succeed. Through the implementation of new technologies to improve behavioral health services for troops both before and after overseas deployment, ten new jobs will be created in the Colorado. These new jobs will facilitate implementation and maintenance of new technologies, in addition to outreach and administrative services.

Capability Expansion of Spinel Transparent Armor Manufacturing
$6 million
CoorsTek, Inc.
16000 Table Mountain Parkway
Golden, CO 80403
Explanation: Spinel production is projected to result in the creation of between 25 and 50 high paying manufacturing jobs. The US Army has been evaluating transparent ceramic materials to replace ballistic glass due to increased ballistic threat levels and, more importantly, the need to drive down gross weight of military vehicles. By not only reducing the gross weight and providing even more protection than traditional ballistic glass, Spinel will extend the life of a military vehicle, improve maneuverability, and most importantly, protect the lives of our men and woman serving in uniform.
Center for Geosciences/Atmospheric Research (CG/AR)
$3 million
Colorado State University’s Center for Geosciences/Atmospheric Research Center
Colorado State University Administration Building
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Explanation: The Department of Defense (DoD) routinely encounters environmental conditions that disrupt its counter-terrorism, war-fighting, peace-keeping, humanitarian, and training operations. The DoD Center for Geosciences/Atmospheric Research (CG/AR) at Colorado State University (CSU) provides multi-disciplinary research using the internationally recognized CSU capabilities to focus on priority environmental problems and questions of concern to the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force. The centers research contributes greatly in the support of our warfighters in areas of ongoing conflict through military engineering technology and warfighter technology activities.

Language request: H.R. 666 – the Military Valor Roll of Honor Act
Cosponsors: 24 (23 originals)
Background: introduced as H.R. 3769 in the 110th Congress. It received 67 cosponsors (23 originals). This legislation creates a database containing the names and citations of our brave servicemen and women who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. The Military Valor Roll of Honor Act is an essential follow up to the Stolen Valor Act. In 2005 the Stolen Valor Act made it illegal to claim ownership of any military decoration awarded by Congress that was not rightfully earned. The Roll of Honor would provide a necessary tool for law enforcement officials to prosecute those charged under Stolen Valor. Individuals have falsely claimed to have earned awards in order to apply for student loans, home loans and when running for office. By having a readily accessible and public database we help families learn about the contributions made by their loved ones. Concerns have been raised with respect to privacy issues. The bill addressed as the information provided in the database would be information that is currently available. The overall problem with current records is that they are not easily accessible.

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