Craig, Crapo, Simpson Secure Funding For North Idaho Projects In National Security Funding Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Idaho Senators Larry Craig, Mike Crapo and Congressman Mike Simpson announced today that several North Idaho projects are included in the National Security Funding Package. The package consists of Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations for fiscal year 2009, and is part of H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2009.

The projects include various research and development projects at Lewiston, Hayden, the University of Idaho in Moscow and the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center's Acoustic Research Detachment at Bayview.

"North Idaho is home to one of the nation's most unique and important research facilities," said Craig. "I am proud my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee and in Congress recognize the contributions made at Bayview and at our State's other institutions by investing in these projects."

"I am deeply proud of the work Idaho's businesses and universities are doing every single day to improve our nation's security," Simpson said. "The projects included in this bill represent critical investments the federal government is making in our nation's security. They also represent investments in our state's high-tech economy and educational institutions that are vital to growing Idaho's economy and creating good paying jobs."

"It is rewarding to see that Congress is, once again, recognizing the important national security contributions made by Idaho universities, research entities, and businesses," Crapo said. "These critical projects are among the most cutting-edge research efforts anywhere in the country and the federal government's investment in them will go a long way toward securing our nation and its interests, as well as advancing Idaho's high-technology future."

The bill, which was created by the Senate and House Appropriations Committees on which Craig and Simpson serve, passed the House with a vote of 370-58 and could pass the Senate as soon as today before moving on to the White House.

A complete list of projects by region follows:

Bayview:

Advanced Continuous Active Sonar for UUVs; Alion. ($2,500,000) This funding is for the development of an anti-submarine warfare sonar system for unmanned underwater vehicles for the Navy.

Acoustic Research Detachment Test Support Platform Upgrade; BAE Systems. ($1,500,000) This upgrade with modernized test support platforms allows for cost effective and technically accurate testing of Navy submarines and surface ships.

Acoustic Research Detachment Large Scale Vehicles Operations Enhancement; BAE Systems. ($480,000) This funding will facilitate the acquisition of a new fiber optic cable to improve researchers' ability to conduct efficient and accurate naval submarine testing, and to improve overall operations.

Hayden:

Composite Bottles for Survival Egress Air; ($2,000,000) The use of composites materials in the canister design for personal compressed air systems will strengthen canister durability from ballistic impact, increase the air storage for army helicopter pilots, and reduce the weight load of the helicopter.

Moscow:

Ultra Low Power Electronics for Special Purpose Computers; University of Idaho. ($1,600,000) This funding is for the development of computers and technologies capable of operating on limited power, reducing the need for military personnel to carry batteries or other sources of power with them.

Electromagnetic Signature Assessment System using Multiple AUVs; University of Idaho. ($1,600,000) The University is working to develop autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) capable of working together to assess the signature of enemy ships or submarines to establish a vehicle's stealth condition.

Evaluating ELF Signals in Maritime Environments; University of Idaho. ($1,600,000) Researchers at the University will evaluate "extremely low frequency" (ELF) signals used by adversaries to detect Navy vessels.

Lewiston:

5.56 Aluminum Cartridge Case; Lake City Army Ammunition Point. ($1,000,000) An infantryman in the field carries loads that often exceed 60 pounds and reducing this load, while maintaining war-fighting effectiveness, is aided by advancements that lighten the weight of both weapons and ammunition. Use of lighter-weight aluminum cartridges will reduce the weight for the infantryman, cost the government less to produce, and potentially be applicable to other calibers of ammunition widely used by the U.S. Armed Forces.