Lincoln: Drew Goesl: 202-224-4843
Berry: Drew Nannis: 202-226-7625
Snyder: Jennifer Oglesby: 501-324-5943
Boozman: Patrick Creamer: 202-225-4301
Ross: Marie DesOrmeaux: 202-225-0753
September 26, 2003
Press Release		  

Delegation Announces Funding for Arkansas Defense Projects
Pine Bluff, Little Rock, Blytheville, East Camden, Fayetteville and Texarkana to Benefit

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Arkansas Congressional delegation today announced that the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have given final approval to $1.35 billion for Arkansas defense projects.

The funding, part of the FY 04 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, will support projects including facility upgrades and new equipment at the Pine Bluff Arsenal’s White Phosphorous Facility and intelligence communications equipment at the Little Rock Air Force Base.

Members of the Arkansas Delegation that secured Arkansas’ share of defense dollars include: Senators Mark Pryor (D) and Blanche Lincoln, Representatives Marion Berry (D-1st), Vic Snyder (D-2nd), John Boozman (R-3rd), and Mike Ross (D-4th).

Overall, the defense spending bill provides $368.2 billion for defense spending. The delegation said it was pleased by the number of Arkansas projects included in the bill given this year’s tight budget. President Bush is expected to sign the FY 04 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill into law in the coming days.

Pine Bluff Arsenal:

  • $24.3 million in new funding for facility upgrades and new equipment at the Pine Bluff Arsenal’s White Phosphorous Facility. The facility possesses the only white phosphorous facility for all U.S. Armed Forces. This funding alleviates the need to finance the much-needed upgrades through rate increases at the facility.

  • $87.5 million for chemical/biological defense masks

  • $15 million for procurement of 81mm Mortar Ammunitions

  • $59 million for procurement of 120mm Mortar Ammunitions

  • $60 million for procurement of 155mm Artillery Ammunitions

  • $14.6 million for the production of M49 chemical/biological decontamination kits

  • $43.8 million for collective protection shelters

  • $13 million for the layaway of excess industrial facilities

  • $14.6 million for the production of M291, M295, M100 and M12A1 decontamination kits

    The Arsenal is also eligible to receive up to $3 million for chemical/biological collective protection equipment.

Little Rock Air Force Base:

  • $6 million in new funding for intelligence communications equipment to be used by the 123rd Intelligence Squadron at the Air Force Base. The equipment provides new age imagery capability to unmanned reconnaissance aerial vehicles such as the Predator, Global Hawk and U-2.

Highland Industrial Park:

  • $7 million for the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). The APKWS, a precision rocket system, is an effective area suppression weapon requested by General Dynamics that will be built in East Camden.

  • $41.9 million for procurement of Hydra 70 rockets

  • $779.5 million for PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles (procurement and research and development)

  • $107.4 for the production of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS)

  • $124 million for production of additional launchers to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)

University of Arkansas:

  • $3 million in new funding to continue important U of A research and development work in the field of ferroelectric and electronic-photonic nanodevices

  • $1 million in new funding to continue the support of the Air Force’s Crew Systems and Personnel Protection Program at The Logistics Institute (TLI). The TLI will demonstrate new technologies that will enhance logistics and improve design, deployability, performance and support of current and future weapons systems

The Lone Star Army Depot:

  • $2.5 million in new funding for the M87A1 Volcano Anti-Tank Mine System, a key component of the Army landmine program. This system replaces the use of hand emplaced conventional minefields, thereby reducing the exposure of personnel to hostile fire

  • $7.9 million for production of the M67 Hand Grenade for the Army

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