McConnell Secures Funding for Critical Defense and University Projects in Kentucky
September 10, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday that he secured $52.6 million in funding for several Kentucky projects in the Senate version of the FY’10 Defense Appropriations bill. The legislation was approved by a key Senate committee today and next goes to the Senate floor for consideration.
“Kentucky’s military installations, universities and defense manufacturers play a vital role in American national security and it is imperative that they receive the financial support necessary to continue their work to support our troops here and abroad,” McConnell said.
McConnell secured funding for the following projects in the bill:
• $3.6 million for the Kentucky National Guard Marijuana Eradication Program
Funding for this program is necessary to help the Kentucky National Guard continue its marijuana eradication efforts in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
• $2.5 million for University of Kentucky Discriminatory Imaging for Missile Defense Program
The University of Kentucky is working to develop, test and demonstrate advanced technology imaging and network solutions for battlefield needs. This technology can enable real-time streaming video for mission planning, rehearsal and implementation at the war fighter level.
• $1.2 million for UK/Fort Knox Rapidly Deployable Visualization Center
UK and Ft. Knox will use the funds to expand on their work to develop a virtual reality-based immersive visualization environment to support military operations training in urban terrains.
• $6 million for the University of Louisville Biometric Optical Surveillance Project
The funds will support UofL’s research into biometric signatures. Researchers at UofL are working to improve the military’s ability to identify chemical signatures to prevent and defend against chemical and biological terrorism.
• $1.9 million for UofL Comprehensive Trauma/Organ Injury Program
The University of Louisville will use the funds to develop new strategies to prevent infection, poor tissue blood flow, and secondary organ injury damage following abdominal battlefield injuries – to potentially aid our wounded troops in the field.
• $1 million for UofL Radio Frequency Identification Technologies
The funds will be used by UofL for the development of new technologies and systems using radio frequency identification (RFID) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to assist the Department of Defense in its effort to get equipment and supplies to troops across the world in a timely manner.
• $3 million for Reactive Armor Ballistics Technology
The funds will be used to test and develop prototypes for Reactive Armor for lighter-weight military vehicles – for better troop protection in the field. The work is being done in Graham, Kentucky.
• $3.4 million for Small Arms Weapons Shot Counters
This funding will be used to complete the development of the Weapons Shot Counter for the military, particularly Special Operations Forces. These units make weapons maintenance more efficient – avoiding many small arms system failures in combat and saving taxpayer dollars by preventing unnecessary repairs. The work is being done in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
• $3 million for the Mk 38 Minor Caliber Gun System
The funding will be used by the Navy to purchase this ship gun system, which protects manufacturing jobs in Louisville.
• $12 million for the Mk 45 Mod 5” Gun Mount Overhauls
The Navy will use the funding to purchase three additional gun mount overhaul systems – supporting vital jobs in Louisville.
• $2 million for the Mk 110 57mm Naval Gun
This funding will enable workers in Louisville to continue their work on this naval gun system for the Navy’s newest ships.
• $12 million for Next Generation Laser Phalanx
This funding will be used to support the Navy’s development of the Laser Phalanx and to support jobs in Louisville.
• $1 million for the RAM Mark 49 Mod 3 Launcher
The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Weapons System is a shipboard quick reaction system to provide protection from anti-ship cruise missiles. The launcher system is constructed by workers in Louisville.
• The Senate bill also fully supports the President’s Budget Request of over $400 million, the most ever, which will benefit operations to safely and efficiently dispose of chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
The Defense Appropriations bill will now go to the full Senate for consideration.
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“Kentucky’s military installations, universities and defense manufacturers play a vital role in American national security and it is imperative that they receive the financial support necessary to continue their work to support our troops here and abroad,” McConnell said.
McConnell secured funding for the following projects in the bill:
• $3.6 million for the Kentucky National Guard Marijuana Eradication Program
Funding for this program is necessary to help the Kentucky National Guard continue its marijuana eradication efforts in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
• $2.5 million for University of Kentucky Discriminatory Imaging for Missile Defense Program
The University of Kentucky is working to develop, test and demonstrate advanced technology imaging and network solutions for battlefield needs. This technology can enable real-time streaming video for mission planning, rehearsal and implementation at the war fighter level.
• $1.2 million for UK/Fort Knox Rapidly Deployable Visualization Center
UK and Ft. Knox will use the funds to expand on their work to develop a virtual reality-based immersive visualization environment to support military operations training in urban terrains.
• $6 million for the University of Louisville Biometric Optical Surveillance Project
The funds will support UofL’s research into biometric signatures. Researchers at UofL are working to improve the military’s ability to identify chemical signatures to prevent and defend against chemical and biological terrorism.
• $1.9 million for UofL Comprehensive Trauma/Organ Injury Program
The University of Louisville will use the funds to develop new strategies to prevent infection, poor tissue blood flow, and secondary organ injury damage following abdominal battlefield injuries – to potentially aid our wounded troops in the field.
• $1 million for UofL Radio Frequency Identification Technologies
The funds will be used by UofL for the development of new technologies and systems using radio frequency identification (RFID) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to assist the Department of Defense in its effort to get equipment and supplies to troops across the world in a timely manner.
• $3 million for Reactive Armor Ballistics Technology
The funds will be used to test and develop prototypes for Reactive Armor for lighter-weight military vehicles – for better troop protection in the field. The work is being done in Graham, Kentucky.
• $3.4 million for Small Arms Weapons Shot Counters
This funding will be used to complete the development of the Weapons Shot Counter for the military, particularly Special Operations Forces. These units make weapons maintenance more efficient – avoiding many small arms system failures in combat and saving taxpayer dollars by preventing unnecessary repairs. The work is being done in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
• $3 million for the Mk 38 Minor Caliber Gun System
The funding will be used by the Navy to purchase this ship gun system, which protects manufacturing jobs in Louisville.
• $12 million for the Mk 45 Mod 5” Gun Mount Overhauls
The Navy will use the funding to purchase three additional gun mount overhaul systems – supporting vital jobs in Louisville.
• $2 million for the Mk 110 57mm Naval Gun
This funding will enable workers in Louisville to continue their work on this naval gun system for the Navy’s newest ships.
• $12 million for Next Generation Laser Phalanx
This funding will be used to support the Navy’s development of the Laser Phalanx and to support jobs in Louisville.
• $1 million for the RAM Mark 49 Mod 3 Launcher
The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Weapons System is a shipboard quick reaction system to provide protection from anti-ship cruise missiles. The launcher system is constructed by workers in Louisville.
• The Senate bill also fully supports the President’s Budget Request of over $400 million, the most ever, which will benefit operations to safely and efficiently dispose of chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
The Defense Appropriations bill will now go to the full Senate for consideration.
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