Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced the approval of the 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill by a key Senate panel which includes substantial funding for Connecticut’s defense industry.  This bill, which was unanimously approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, contained significant additional funds that will increase submarine production to two submarines per year by 2010 – two years earlier than originally planned by the Navy.  This funding impacts thousands of jobs throughout Connecticut, especially in the southeast region of the state.  The bill also includes substantial investments in current defense systems and research and development activities to ensure U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are outfitted with the quality resources they need to perform their missions

“This bill marks the culmination of years of effort to save our nation’s submarine fleet,” said Dodd.  “Congress has finally decided to stand up to this administration, plot a new course for our defense priorities, and invest in America’s critical manufacturing industries.  This bill highlights the confidence that our nation’s leaders have in Connecticut workers and promotes investments in technologies essential to our national security.”

“Preserving the submarine industrial base in the United States is a matter of national security and economic stability,” said Lieberman.  “This bill marks long-awaited progress toward maintaining a robust submarine force in the United States -- one that can readily meet all of the challenges of warfighting, reconnaissance, and joint support placed upon it.”

Funding in the Defense Appropriations bill will be used to provide military equipment, ranging from ground vehicles, aircraft, and naval ships, and to support various advances in technology development and troop protection. The following projects will be supported by the defense appropriations provided by this bill:

Groton

Electric Boat

• $3 billion for VIRGINIA Class attack submarines including an additional $470 million above President’s request to begin advance procurement of materials to increase production to 2 submarines per year by 2010; two years earlier than current Navy plans.
• $5 million for an undersea launch missile study to help begin development of new class of strategic missile submarines. 

Stratford

Sikorsky

• $ 2.0 billion for 97 UH-60 Blackhawk Army and Navy variant helicopters; which includes $182 million above the President’s request for 10 additional Army Blackhawk helicopters.
• $397 million to continue developing the CH-53K Super Stallion helicopter.

Middletown

Pratt and Whitney

• $3.6 billion for the procurement of 20 F/A-22 Raptor Air Force fighter jets which are powered by Pratt and Whitney engines.
• $6.7 billion for the procurement of 12 Joint Strike Fighters and for continued research and development of the new aircraft which will be outfitted with Pratt and Whitney engines.
• $442.3 million for the procurement and continued development of the C-17 Globemaster III Tactical Airlift Aircraft which are outfitted with Pratt and Whitney engines.
• $5 million for the Metals Affordability Initiative Consortium, of which Pratt and Whitney participates in the research and development of advanced metal machining methods.
• $6 million for the development of an affordable advanced turbine engine

Bloomfield

Kaman Aerospace

• $2 million for the research and development of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Resupply (BURRO) craft
• $2 million for the research and development of composite small rotor blades

Branford

Invitrogen

• $1 million for the research and development of the multi-purpose biodefense immunoarray

Bridgeport

Fermont

• $111.5 million for Army tactical quiet generators, of which Fermont is a major supplier

Danbury

FuelCell Energy

• $4 million for the research and development of a 1 Megawatt Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Demonstrator at Sub Base New London to develop a clean fuel cell generator for use at Sub Base New London

Electro Energy

• $2 million for the research and development of the bi-polar wafer-cell nickel metal hydride aircraft battery

DRS

• $9 million for the research and development of the next generation Destroyer advanced magnet motor system

Enfield

Specialized Technology Resources

• $3 million for the increased domestic production of photovoltaic solar cell encapsulants, which is a key component in the production of advanced solar cells

Hartford

UTC

• $3 million for the research and development of a hydrogen fuel cell for medium/heavy duty vehicles
• $2 million for the research and development of high temperature ceramic manufacturing technology critical for the domestic aerospace industry

New London

• $7 million increase in the funding for a procurement assistance centers which assist small businesses in securing Department of Defense contracts

Simsbury

Ensign-Bickford

• $5 million for the research and development of the soldier portable solid fuel hydrogen generator

South Windsor

Capewell

• $2 million for the research and development of precision airdrop technology

Stonington

Chesapeake Sciences Corp

• $4 million for the research and development of an advanced submarine towed sonar array

West Hartford

Goodrich PECS

• $3 million for the research and development of advanced engine controls for Army helicopters
• $2 million for the research and development of the thermally efficient unmanned aerial vehicle fuel pumping system

Colt Defense

• $105.8 million for Army procurement of the M-4 Carbine rifle

Windsor

Aero-Gear

• $1 million for the research and development of the legacy Aero-space gear drive re-engineering initiative

Windsor Locks

Hamilton Sundstrand

• $847.3 million for the research and development of the E2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft which will be outfitted with propeller hubs and composite propellers manufactured by Hamilton Sunstrand

In addition to the many Connecticut defense initiatives, Senators Dodd and Lieberman also lauded the inclusion of funding for the following efforts in the Defense Appropriations bill:

• $240 million for cancer research initiatives
• $5 million for Impact Aid for Children with Disabilities
• $10 million for University research initiatives
• $20 million for Defense-wide manufacturing science and technology programs

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