Hoyer Secures Millions in Defense Dollars For Pax River - Ensures Funds Remain in Final Bill

Hoyer Secures Millions in Defense Dollars For Pax River - Ensures Funds Remain in Final Bill
July 23, 2004

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives last evening passed the fiscal year 2005 Defense Appropriations conference report, agreed to by both the House and the Senate, that contains funding important to Patuxent River Naval Air Station and Southern Maryland. This funding was added to the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2005 at Congressman Hoyer's request and was not included in the President's defense funding request for fiscal year 2005. Hoyer is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and worked to ensure these funds remained in the final version of this bill.

"Pax River has become home to an increasing number and variety of sophisticated high priority projects including the Joint Strike Fighter and the Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) programs. These projects highlight the impressive capabilities of this installation which plays a critical role in our nation's defense," said Congressman Hoyer. "Pax River is the right installation for these programs, and the funding included in the conference report demonstrates a recognition by the U.S. Navy and the Congress that the talented engineers at Pax have the experience and expertise to be trusted with the development of our nation's most advanced naval aircraft.

"These programs are not only important to our state's economy, but will further enhance the technical testing capabilities at Pax and keep it at the forefront of naval aviation testing by increasing the safety and efficiency of our naval operations."

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