U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS ANNOUCES MAJOR GAINS FOR SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA IN NATIONAL DEFENSE LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today announced that military installations in Southeastern Arizona will realize significant gains from national defense legislation passed by a strong bipartisan majority in the House.

More than 200 highly skilled jobs will remain in Tucson because of language Giffords included into the National Defense Authorization Act. Her measure stops the Air Force from proceeding with plans to remove an F-16 fighter jet maintenance facility from the Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing.

"Congresswoman Giffords understands the tremendous efficiencies that the Air National Guard brings to the defense of our nation," said Brigadier General Patrick Moisio, commander of the 162nd. "Her work on the defense authorization act protects one of the Guard's greatest strengths, the incomparable experience of our citizen airmen maintaining aircraft at the unit level."

The National Defense Authorization Act for 2009 passed the House today in a 392 to 39 vote.

The legislation appropriated $23 million requested by Giffords for crucial defense investments at Daivs-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson and Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista. They include:

• $2 million for the Silver Fox and Manta Unmanned Ariel Systems, a joint effort spearheaded by the fort's Battle Laboratory and Advanced Ceramics Research, a Tucson contractor;
• $2.4 million for the Asymmetric Threat Response and Analysis Project, a joint effort of the Battle Lab and the University of Arizona to develop computerized tools that will predict and prevent insurgent attacks;
• $1.6 million for the Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel Upgrade Initiative at UA, a project that is vital for aerospace teaching, research and testing of new technologies;
• $2 million for the Air Traffic Control Radar Operations Building Upgrade and Expansion, a project to modernize the existing 20-year old air traffic control facility at the fort; and
• $15 million for the construction of a new Fire/Crash Rescue Station at D-M, where the existing facility has not received any major improvements since its initial construction in 1955 and operates in violation of multiple fire codes.

"I am proud to have fought for worthwhile projects like these," said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. "All of them will contribute to improving our nation's defense and all of them represent a wise use of taxpayer dollars."

Giffords also authored a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that promotes language and cultural training and creates a pilot program to extend these training opportunities to the National Guard. The provision incentivizes cultural and language training to attract those with skills we need now and creates a career path for those who seek to do this in the future. Such training takes place at Fort Huachuca.

"Language and cultural training can help break down barriers and improve counterinsurgency operations," said Giffords. "As we have sought to tear down walls of misunderstanding between the military and the people they seek to help, we have learned that success depends on adequate language and cultural training. Understanding different cultures and speaking different languages will increase our ability to succeed militarily and diplomatically against any threat and alongside any friend around the world."

The National Defense Authorization Act authorizes $531.4 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense and the national security programs for the Department of Energy. It also authorizes $68.6 billion to support ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan during fiscal year 2009, which begins October 1.

The legislation increases the size of the military by 7,000 Soldiers - 5,000 Marines, 1,023 sailors, and by 450 Airmen. It also provides a much-needed 3.9 percent pay increase and prohibits increases in health care fees.

"This bipartisan bill represents an unwavering commitment to those who wear the uniform of the United States military and their families," said Giffords. "It advances military readiness and rightfully increases the focus on the critical mission in Afghanistan."

The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act for FY 2009 (H.R. 2638), also passed the House today by a vote of 370 to 58. This legislation was the actual appropriation of the defense spending authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act (S.3001).