FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 7, 2006

Isakson, Chambliss: Defense Funding Bill Benefits Georgia

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) today praised the Senate’s passage of the fiscal year 2007 Defense Appropriations Bill, saying that the bill strengthens national security, addresses important quality-of-life issues for troops and includes funds for weapons systems made in Georgia.   

“Georgia’s military bases and defense systems manufacturers are critical to our national security and have played a key role in the War on Terror, and I am very pleased to see such a strong commitment to them from Washington,” Isakson said. “One of our most important duties in Congress is to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to protect our homeland and continue the fight for freedom around the world.”

 “Georgia troops play a key role in the global war on terrorism and, as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am committed to ensuring that all of our soldiers have the resources and tools they need to complete their missions,” said Chambliss.  “Additionally, there are countless civilian employees in Georgia working to construct the world’s most cutting edge weapons systems currently in use by the joint forces.  We will continue doing all we can to make sure these aircraft maintain their viability and production lines in Georgia.”   

Highlights of Georgia-related items included in the bill are: 

• $2.9 billion for production of F-22A weapons system built by Lockheed Martin in Marietta, plus authorization of a multi-year procurement contract
• $867 million for 12 C-130J’s manufactured by Lockheed Martin in Marietta
• $126 million for 2 KC-130J’s
• $2.3 billion for C-17 transport planes largely manufactured by Boeing in Macon plus language directing the Department of Defense to budget for additional C-17’s in fiscal year 2008
• $919 million for Trident II modifications
• $8 million for Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/ Air Traffic Management for Joint STARS aircraft stationed Robins Air Force Base
• $1 million for Covert WPM Waveform Modules developed by Scientific Research Corporation in Atlanta
• $1 million for Advanced Bio-Engineering for Enhancement of Soldier Survivability developed by Georgia Tech
• $2 million for National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center in Swainsboro
• $12 million for C-5 Avionics Modernization Program partly completed by Lockheed Martin in Marietta
• $3 million for Warner Robins Air Logistics Center ASW Aircraft Availability developed by Intergraph in Atlanta
• $2 million for Moldable Fabric Armor
• $1.5 million for Rapid Replacement of Mission Critical Logistics Electronics developed by Scientific Research Corporation in Atlanta
• $1.5 million for Combat Arms Training System developed by Firearms Training Systems, Inc. in Suwanee
• $6 million for the "ULTRA" armored patrol vehicle developed by Georgia Tech
• $7 million for APN-241 Color Weather Radar for C-130H2 aircraft for the Georgia National Guard
• $30 million for Department of Defense Supplemental Impact Aid, including $5 million for disabled students and $10 million to assist local communities affected by BRAC
• $2 million for the Reach Out and Read program

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