WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced the Senate version of the Department of Defense fiscal year 2009 spending bill includes $66 million for defense projects in Maryland, including $10 million for defense projects in Southern Maryland. The legislation, which passed the subcommittee today, funds the Department of Defense and will go toward critical research, development, test and evaluation programs, as well as weapons and equipment required for the U.S. Armed Forces.

“We need to do everything we can to support our troops with the equipment they need on the battlefield, the benefits and services they deserve when they return home, and support for their families on the home front. We know how critical these funds are for our troops to fulfill their mission and return home safely,” said Senator Mikulski. “I will keep fighting to put money in the federal checkbook for our troops.”

The $10 million for Southern Maryland defense projects includes:

• $6 million to complete the fiber optic data link between Patuxent River Naval Air Station and Wallops Flight Facility to better meet the need for digital communications and to support advanced Navy aircraft testing between the Navy and NASA testing ranges and facilities.

• $4 million for High Energy Conventional Energetics to target asymmetric threats, such as hardened weapons of mass destruction sites. This program is managed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Charles County.

In the next step of the appropriations process, the spending bill will go to the full Appropriations Committee for a vote. That vote has not yet been scheduled.