FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 22, 2005

Chambliss, Isakson: Defense Funding Bill Benefits Georgia
Bill Strengthens National Defense, Makes Quality of Life Improvements for Our Troops

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss- R-Ga.., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today praised Senate passage of the conference report for fiscal year 2006 Defense Appropriations Bill saying that the bill strengthens our national security, addresses important quality of life issues for our troops and includes funds for weapons systems made in Georgia.  The bill was amended to remove a provision that would allow oil exploration in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. Because of this change, the bill now goes back to the House of Representatives for final approval. 

“Georgia plays a major role in the national security of the United States,” said Chambliss, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee.  “Not only do our military installations contribute to our strong national defense, but Georgia workers also play a key role building the best weapon systems that help our men and women in the armed forces fight and win wars.  As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am pleased to help secure these important funds for our troops and for important weapons systems built in Georgia that our military needs.”

“Georgia’s military bases and defense systems manufacturers are critical to our national security and have played a key role in the war in Iraq, and I am very pleased to see such a strong commitment to them from Washington,” Isakson said.

Overall bill highlights include:  $97.0 billion for Military Personnel, $123.6 billion for Operation and Maintenance, $76.5 billion for Procurement, and $72.1 billion for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation.  The bill fully funds the 3.1% military pay raise, effective January 1, 2006, and end strength levels requested for active duty and Guard and Reserve Personnel in the President's budget.  The bill provides an increase of $71 million for Family Advocacy, childcare programs, and assistance to military families and $35 million for Impact Aid.  The bill also provides a total of $150.3 million to cover costs of the enhanced life insurance and death gratuity benefits originally approved in the FY 2005 war supplemental. 

Highlights of Georgia related items included in the bill: 

• $3.2 billion for 25 F/A-22 Raptors built by Lockheed Martin in Marietta
• $1 billion for 13 C-130J’s manufactured by Lockheed-Martin in Marietta
• $2.8 billion for 15 C-17 transport planes partially manufactured by Boeing in Macon
• $45 million for a C-37 aircraft for the Air Force to be built by Gulfstream in Savannah
• $77 million for the C-5 Avionics Modernization Program and $11 million for the C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program, to improve performance of the C-5 aircraft  manufactured by Lockheed.
• $1.5 million for the "ULTRA" armored patrol vehicle developed by Georgia Tech
• $5 million for Facility Needs at the National Guard Training Center at Ft. Stewart
• $13 million to initiate a re-engining program for Joint Stars aircraft stationed Robins Air Force Base
• $1.5 million for the National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center in Swainsboro
• $6 million for the Combat Arms Training System s developed by Firearms Training System (FATS), Inc. in Suwanee
• $1.5 million for Lithium Ion Batteries for Multiple Navy Aircraft developed in Valdosta
• $13 million for the National Guard Youth Challenge Program
• $35 million for DoD Supplemental Impact Aid
• $7 million for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program which will benefit the Georgia Procurement Assistance Center.

Additionally, the bill provides a total of $29 billion for disaster assistance to hurricane-damaged areas as well as $3.8 billion for avian flu preparedness.  The bill includes no new net spending for these items.  Any additional expenditures are offset by 1% across the board reduction applied to all FY06 discretionary spending with the exemption of Veterans Administration funding, reallocating previously appropriated funds in FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, and rescissions of un-obligated balances.