U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth

News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chip Weiskotten, 202-226-8553
Russ Levsen, 202-225-2801

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL WITH $9.5 MILLION FOR SD PROJECTS

Includes Pay Raise for Military Personnel; Invests in the Future of the B-1 Bomber and Funds Critical Equipment Needs for Troops

August 6, 2007, Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives this weekend passed the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill includes more than $9.5 million in funding for South Dakota projects requested by U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, as well as a pay raise for military personnel, funding for critical equipment and readiness needs for our troops, and an investment in the future of the B-1 Bomber.

Herseth Sandlin said, “I’m proud to support a well-deserved pay raise for our troops and funding for health care for those who serve our country in uniform. These are national priorities and should be included in the ongoing cost of war.”

Herseth Sandlin continued, “Importantly, the bill also provides funding for high-priority equipment needs for our National Guard and Reserve units, some of which are experiencing critical equipment shortfalls and deficiencies. It also contains significant resources to invest in the future of the B-1 Bomber, including the fleet at Ellsworth Air Force Base.”

Herseth Sandlin noted that the bill addresses a number of our military’s readiness needs, an issue that has been of growing concern among many in Congress. Recent reports have indicated Army readiness has dropped to levels not seen since the 1970s, and Army National Guard units have only 56 percent of their required equipment, the lowest levels since September 11, 2001. Additionally, many stateside units are not fully equipped and would not be considered ready if called upon to respond during an emergency.

Overall, the bill also contains $459.6 billion for Defense Department programs in FY 2008, including:

$2.2 billion to cover the cost of a 3.5 percent military pay raise – 0.5 percent more than the President’s budget request
$6.7 billion for Guard and reserve equipment, including $925 million to address equipment shortfalls to help these forces meet the demands of overseas deployments and respond to domestic natural disasters. This amount meets the requirements identified by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau in the “Essential 10 Equipment Requirements for the Global War on Terror”
$558.4 million more than the President’s request for military family support, including childcare centers, education programs and the family advocacy program which supports military families affected by the war and child and spousal abuse
$23 billion for Defense Department military health care programs
$144 million for B-1 Bomber research and development activities
$43 million for modifications to existing B-1 aircraft, including the fleet at Ellsworth Air Force Base
$500 million to develop countermeasures to prevent IED attacks

The bill also contains $9,525,000 for research and defense-related projects specific to South Dakota, requested by Rep. Herseth Sandlin, including:

Project: Control System for Laser Powder Deposition - South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T)
Received: $350,000

Project: Improvised Explosive Device Simulation in Different Soils (SDSM&T)
Received: $425,000

Project: Transparent Nanocomposite Armor (SDSM&T)
Received: $300,000

Project: Next Generation Lightweight Drive System for Army Weapon (Dakota Power Inc. – Rapid City)
Received: $2 million

Project: Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Sensors (SDSM&T)
Received: $500,000

Project: Shielding Rocket Payloads (SDSM&T)
Received: $350,000

Project: Future Affordable Multi-Utility Materials for the Army Future Combat Systems (SDSM&T) in partnership with Florida A&M University and Iowa State University
Received: $5 million

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.