Defense Contracts Headed To Arizona

Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) announced that millions of dollars in defense appropriations contracts are slated for Arizona projects designed to fight the War on Terror. The fiscal year 2007 Defense Appropriations bill passed the House on Tuesday.

The Department of Defense Appropriations Act contains more than $1 billion less in earmarks than last year's bill & $2.7 billion less than last year's conference report.

Provisions in the legislation include:
$1.5 billion to develop improvised explosive device countermeasures; An additional $725 million for personnel force protection items, including body armor; Full funding for the 2.2% military pay raise, effective Jan. 1st, 2007; $500 million above the president's request for National Guard equipment needs.

Overall Budgetary Highlights:
Military Personnel - $84.9 billion
Operations & Maintenance - $120.5 billion
Procurement - $81.8 billion
Research, Development, Test & Evaluation - $75.3 billion
Revolving & Management Funds - $2.4 billion
Emergency Wartime Appropriations - $50.0 billion

Arizona companies will pitch into the war effort as well.

$1.7 million will be added to the Army's Flexible Display Initiative. The Army instituted a public-private partnership with Arizona State University & private sector companies to continue to develop & manufacture cutting edge technology. The partnership is working on portable, paper thin, low-power display monitors used by soldiers for communications purposes in combat situations. Robertson Aviation of Tempe will receive $9.3 million to modify UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Dillon Arrow of Scottsdale will receive $3.3 million for a M134D-T mini gun system for aircraft in the SOAR inventory. Armor Holdings will receive $1.2 million for the installation of the Cockpit Air Bag System on UH-60 Black Hawk & OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters.