Statement on the Defense Appropriations Bill in the U.S. House

Statement of the Hon. Rosa L. DeLauro
Defense Appropriations Bill in the U.S. House

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on the Fiscal Year 2006 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill, which includes over $2 billion in funding for Connecticut defense manufacturers, is expected to pass the House this evening.

"This funding provides important resources for Connecticut's defense manufacturers, preserving and increasing manufacturing jobs in our state, while providing the military with the best products in the world.

"These 83 Black Hawks and $4 million in modifications to the CH-53E fleet will keep Sikorsky's plant working hard this year. The federal government is one of the company's biggest customers, and I am proud to help give this employer the business it needs, and our troops the equipment they deserve."

DeLauro is the only member of the House Appropriations Committee from Connecticut.

Connecticut funding in the bill includes:

Sikorsky

§ 83 Black Hawks (45 Army, 38 Navy) totaling $1.5 billion.

§ An Additional $382 million in Black Hawk repair work and advance procurement.

§ $4 million for improved engineering and repair of the Marine Corps CH-53E.

§ Includes $72 million for competitors in the Air Force Personnel Recovery Vehicle competition to continue design and risk-reduction. The language also directs the Air Force to delay a decision on the contract until after February 2006 (the current expected award date).

Pratt and Whitney

§ $15 million in F-16 engine upgrades to be done at Middletown.

§ $2 million in F-15 engine upgrades to be done at Middletown.

§ Funding for 24 F-22 aircraft (Pratt makes the engine on these aircraft). The Committee report includes language that directs the Air Force to consider production of the F-22 beyond 2009, when DOD would like to terminate the program.

§ Funding for 15 C-17 aircraft and funds a "down payment" for 7 aircraft next year (Pratt makes the engine on these aircraft).

§ $4.9 billion in R&D for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (Pratt makes the engine on these aircraft)

Kaman Aerospace, Middletown

§ $223 million to procure 8,000 Joint Programmable Fuzes (a fuze is a missile component used by the Air Force).

Proton Energy, Wallingford

§ $2 million to develop a solar-to-fuel cell energy system that will be the back-up to the main power system at China Lake, the Navy's desert warfare training center.

Fuel Cell Energy, Danbury

§ $2 million to construct a 1-megawatt fuel cell for the U.S. Navy.

University of Connecticut

§ $3 million to continue a study improving soldier recovery from catastrophic bone injuries.

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/June/defense_bill_06_20_05.html