FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 29, 2006

Chambliss, Isakson: Congress Gives Final Approval to Defense Funding for Georgia
Bill Strengthens National Security, Improves Quality-of-Life for Troops, Includes Funding for Weapons Systems Made in Georgia

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today applauded Senate approval of the fiscal year 2007 Defense Appropriations Conference Report, a spending bill that includes a number of important provisions for Georgia military personnel and installations. 

 “Georgia’s defense community plays a key role in the global war on terrorism and we must ensure that our military personnel have the resources to carry out their missions,” said Chambliss, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.  “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.  This bill provides much-needed funding and I am pleased that our colleagues recognize its importance.” 

“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.”

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
• $800 million for 12 C-130J’s manufactured by Lockheed Martin in Marietta
• $170 million for 2 KC-130J’s
• $4.3 billion for 22 C-17 transport planes, an addition of 10 over the President’s Budget Request, manufactured in part by Boeing in Macon
• $919 million for Trident II modifications
• $3.6 million for Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/ Air Traffic Management for Joint STARS aircraft stationed Robins Air Force Base
• $2 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
• $5.4 million for C-5 Avionics Modernization Program partly completed by Lockheed Martin in Marietta
• $1.4 million for Warner Robins Air Logistics Center ASW Aircraft Availability developed by Intergraph in Atlanta
• $1 million for Moldable Fabric Armor
• $1 million for Rapid Replacement of Mission Critical Logistics Electronics developed by Scientific Research Corporation in Atlanta
• $2.8 million for Combat Arms Training System developed by Firearms Training Systems, Inc. in Suwanee
• $3 million for the "ULTRA" armored patrol vehicle developed by Georgia Tech
• $3.2 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 $8 million to assist local communities affected by BRAC
• $1.1 million for the Reach Out and Read program
• $5 million for a multi-purpose parade field at Fort Benning
• $2 million for the C-130 AIRCAT Condition Based Maintenance program at Robins AFB
• $1 million for the John H. Hopps Defense Research Scholars Program at Morehouse College
• $1 million for the Smisson-Cartledge Infuser
• $1.3 million for the Integration of Live/Virtual Threats at the Townsend Range
• $1.3 million for the Center for Diagnosis of Pathogens at Georgia State University
• $1 million for the Protein HydroGel for Battlefield Trauma program
• $8 million for the Semiconductor Focused Center Research Program
• $2.6 million for the WR-ALC C-5 Maintenance Transformation program at Robins AFB
• $1 million for the RAPCEval-NEWSTARS program
• $1.95 million for the Advanced Bonded Diamond for Optical Applications program
• $578 million to procure UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters
• $1.35M for the Obesity Medical Research Program, a collaboration between the Curtis & Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at the Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah and Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC
• $2.6 million for P5 combat training system infrastructure assets for the Georgia National Guard
• $1.6 million for Target Location, Identification, and Engagement with unmanned systems program at Robins AFB  

The fiscal year 2007 Defense Appropriations Conference Report reconciles the Senate version of the bill with the House version.  It now goes to President Bush for his signature.