Heinrich Secures Key Provisions In Defense Authorization Bill To Spur Economic Growth In Central New Mexico

Press Release

U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1), member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced that H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, passed the committee by a vote of 59 to 0. Rep. Heinrich secured several key provisions in the bill to support U.S. service members and their families, create jobs, and spur economic development in central New Mexico. A detailed summary of the bill as reported is available here.

"Supporting our service men and women and their families is a top priority of mine," said Rep. Heinrich. "Ensuring our military has the resources they need to protect our nation will bolster the research and development central New Mexico is known for, create jobs, and keep the American people safe during this time of conflict and for generations to come."

Rep. Heinrich secured eight key provisions in H.R. 5136, including:

Increasing the maximum age to 26 at which our troops and military retirees are allowed to provide health coverage to their dependent children. This language is based on a piece of legislation Rep. Heinrich introduced earlier this year, H.R. 4923, the TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act, which has attracted 86 bipartisan cosponsors and is endorsed by several veterans service organizations including the Military Officers Association of America, the National Guard Association of the United States, the Air Force Association, and the Air Force Sergeants Association.

Requiring the Secretary of Defense to modernize the military's separation form, known as the DD214, to allow for an email address to be included on the form. This language is based on the first piece of legislation Rep. Heinrich introduced in Congress, H.R. 2488, the Veterans Communication Improvement Act, which is supported by New Mexico Secretary of Veterans Services, John Garcia.

Increasing funding for Operationally Responsive Space (ORS), headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base. The funding secured by Rep. Heinrich will accelerate the development of critical ORS infrastructure and allow the ORS office to procure an open architecture with a plug-in-play bus, modular payloads, and standard interfaces, which are essential to fielding smaller, more versatile satellites.
Amount: $40 Million

Funding for the Airborne Laser Test Bed. Given the enormous potential of directed energy, Rep. Heinrich helped include funding to further the research and development of this technology at Kirtland Air Force Base while retaining the jobs and expertise that is required.
Amount: $50 Million

Propelling our nation's quest for energy security and independence. This language is based on legislation that Rep. Heinrich introduced, H.R. 5230, the Military Energy Security Act (MESA), which would create an energy security pilot program that utilizes partnerships between military bases and national laboratories to develop secure microgrid systems that could be implemented throughout our communities.
Amount: $5 Million

Constructing a new fire station to better serve the southeastern part of Kirtland Air Force Base and improve response times to critical, high value facilities including munitions storage.
Amount: $7 Million

Funding for the University of New Mexico to increase research and development partnerships between public universities and the U.S. Department of Defense. This partnership provides faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students with exceptional opportunities to contribute to critical research and development goals that will shape future missions. The requested project will create or sustain 50 local jobs.
Amount: $5 Million

Funding for a non-profit, charitable foundation, Technology Ventures Corporation (TVC), to help expand innovation in New Mexico's emerging satellite industry.
Amount: $3 Million

"These provisions are investments in central New Mexico that will create jobs and ensure our national security. This bill is the result of a bipartisan effort for which we can all be proud." said Rep. Heinrich.

H.R. 5136 authorizes $567 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE). The bill also authorizes $159 billion to support overseas contingency operations during fiscal year 2011, and authorizes $34 billion for fiscal year 2010 supplemental appropriations for overseas contingency operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and to provide humanitarian and disaster assistance to assist victims following the earthquake in Haiti.

The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.

Source