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News
(Washington, DC)–U.S.
Congressman Jim McCrery today praised House passage of the Fiscal Year
2002 Defense Appropriations conference report, which includes almost
$132 million for projects in Northwest Louisiana. Included in the
legislation is over $84 million in upgrades to the nation’s B-52 fleet and $7 million for the
Army’s Totally Integrated Munitions Enterprise (TIME) project.
"Passage of the Defense conference report, and its inclusion of
$132 million in funding for these projects in Northwest Louisiana
reflects the vital role they play in America’s national defense,"
said McCrery.
The conference report provides almost $125 million for the Air Force’s
B-52 fleet. Of this funding, $66.874 million will be used to fund both
the Avionics Midlife Improvement program that will update the
aircraft’s navigation and weapons delivery system, and the Situational
Awareness Defensive Improvement program that will increase memory,
allow reprogramability and provide for enhanced situational cockpit
awareness for B-52 pilots. An additional $40.3 million for operation
and maintenance for the B-52 Attrition Reserve Force. Also included is
$17.8 million to be used to fund nuclear and conventional tasking
modifications to the B-52 squadrons. Barksdale Air Force base is home
to four of the five B-52 squadrons.
"This funding will help maintain and improve the effectiveness of
the B-52 and will allow Barksdale, home of the majority of B-52s, to
remain one of the Air Force’s premier facilities," said McCrery.
In addition, $7
million in funding for the TIME project was included in the
appropriations bill. Once fully implemented, the TIME project will
allow Army engineers to remotely reconfigure munitions manufacturing
machinery to incorporate new prototype requirements, product
improvements and production process changes. Research on this project
is being spearheaded by the Louisiana Center for Manufacturing
Sciences, a consortium of public and corporate partners, based in
Shreveport.
"By including this funding in the final Conference report, my
colleagues in Congress recognized the importance of continuing this
program for the Army and its efforts to streamline munitions
manufacturing," said McCrery.
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