The total recommended in the bill will provide the following program in fiscal year 2002.

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Insert offset folios here HR298.050

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE EQUIPMENT

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Fiscal year 2001 appropriation  $100,000,000 

Fiscal year 2002 budget request              

Committee recommendation         501,485,000 

Change from budget request       501,485,000 

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This appropriation provides funds for the procurement of tactical aircraft and other equipment for the National Guard and Reserve.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The President requested $1,897,100,000 for National Guard and Reserve Equipment throughout the Services' procurement appropriations, for programs that the Committee has addressed elsewhere in this report. In this appropriation, the Committee recommends an increase of $501,485,000 for the procurement of crucial aircraft, ground transportation, communications, and training systems for the National Guard and Reserve. The Committee is aware of the valuable contributions which are made by National Guard and Reserve forces to the defense of our Nation and realizes they are indispensable in the day-to-day conduct of military operations both within the United States and in every theater where U.S. troops are deployed. The Committee is particularly proud and grateful to the thousands of National Guardsmen and Reservists who have been activated to participate in operations NOBLE EAGLE and ENDURING FREEDOM, our nation's reponse to the tragic attack against our country which occurred on September 11, 2001.

UH-60 BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS

The Army requested $174,515,000 for UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters for the Army National Guard in the Aircraft Procurement, Army account. The Committee recommends the requested amount elsewhere in this report, and further recommends an additional $131,176,000 for the procurement of eight UH-60L Blackhawk helicopters only for the A and D Companies of the 158th Aviation Battalion, Army Reserve. The Committee provided funding in fiscal year 2001 to establish two Army Reserve Blackhawk Companies and is aware that eight additional helicopters would fill out the required aircraft for those units.

BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE ODS

The Committee recommends $60,000,000 only for Bradley Fighting Vehicle Base Sustainment to upgrade National Guard Bradley fighting vehicles to the ODS (Operation Desert Storm) configuration. This effort to improve survivability and remedy operational deficiencies will significantly improve the combat effectiveness of National Guard units.

RESERVE COMPONENT AUTOMATION SYSTEM

The Committee recommends $18,000,000 for the Reserve Component Automation System, only to extend and improve information technology infrastructure by upgrading to current technologies and leveraging these improvements to support traditional and emerging missions of the Reserve Components.

C-130J

The Committee recommends $226,909,000 for two C-130J aircraft and associated support only for the Air National Guard to be used solely for western states firefighting. The Committee continues to be concerned about the numerous forest fires, which have ravaged the western United States, and is aware that National Guard units have played a key role in fighting those fires.

PROGRAM RECOMMENDED

The total amount recommended in the bill will provide the following in the fiscal year 2002:

Insert offset folios 0104 here HR298.051

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT PURCHASES

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Fiscal year 2001 appropriation  $3,000,000 

Fiscal year 2002 budget request 50,000,000 

Committee recommendation        50,000,000 

Change from request                      0 

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The Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.) authorizes the use of federal funds to correct industrial resource shortfalls and promote critical technology items which are essential to the national defense. The Department requested $50,000,000 for Defense Production Act purchases in fiscal year 2002. The Committee recommends $50,000,000, the amount of the budget request.

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