Dreier Votes to Increase Pay for Troops

May 23, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-Sam Dimas, CA), Rules Committee Ranking Republican, voted late last night to approve legislation that increases pay for our troops and provides them vital tools in their efforts to fight and win the war against radical extremism.  The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, H.R. 5658, was approved with overwhelming bipartisan support, 384-23.

“Our troops are working around the clock, day in and day out in defense of our country,” Dreier said.  “They deserve a raise and this bipartisan bill will give that to them.  The bill also provides for an expansion of our active-duty Army and Marine Corps and increases funding for the critical equipment our troops need.  The challenges facing our troops are great, but they are more than up to the task and they have the bipartisan support of Congress and the American people.”

H.R. 5658 increases the size of the active-duty Army by 7,000 to 532,400, and Marine Corps by 5,000 to 194,000.  It also mandates a 3.9 percent pay raise for all members of the Armed Forces in 2009.  Additionally, the bill authorizes $9.7 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment, $24.4 billion for military construction and family housing projects, and $25.4 billion for defense-health care programs.

Of local interest to the Foothills, H.R. 5658 authorizes funding for four local companies that have partnered with the Department of Defense to provide specific equipment and technologies for our troops.  The bill authorizes $6 million for the Fire Shield, which was developed by Chang Industry of La Verne and helps protect armored vehicles from the blast effects of rocket propelled grenades.  Additionally, $5 million is authorized for the Micro Seeker System for Small Steerable Projectiles, a sensor system that uses small munitions to track and destroy incoming threats like mortars and artillery rounds and developed by Tanner Research of Monrovia.  The Wavelength Agile Spectral Harmonic Oxygen Sensor, developed by Advanced Projects Research, Inc. of La Verne, receives a $5.2 million authorization in the bill.  The Sensor eliminates the possibility of mixing oxygen and other gases in an aircraft fuel tank, which can cause the aircraft to explode.  And finally, $2 million is authorized in the bill to procure MBU 20/P Oxygen Masks with Mask Lights which are manufactured by Gentex Corporation in Rancho Cucamonga.