WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that the Senate passed a critical bill that will provide Missouri with disaster relief, low-income families with energy assistance, top notch equipment for our troops in the field and cutting edge military research, including more than $50 million for key Missouri military projects.  

  

“For communities devastated by a disaster, to families struggling with high energy costs, to our troops in the field, help is on the way,” said Bond.  

  

Today the Senate passed a spending package that passed the House earlier this week.  The bill must now go to the President to be signed into law.  Bond fought to include a number of critical provisions in this end-of-session bill – disaster relief, energy assistance for low-income families, a lift of the drilling moratorium, and military projects in Missouri to help our troops in the field.

  

 

 

Disaster Assistance

 

From floods to tornados, Missouri has been hit hard by natural disasters this year.  In response, Bond worked with Senators representing other impacted States to craft a disaster package that is included in the spending package passed by the Senate today. This package includes $22.9 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for relief and recovery from hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.  As part of that funding, $518 million will be used for agricultural programs that will aid in the clean up and rehabilitation of farm land.  Bond emphasized that these funds are critical to helping Missouri families, small businesses and farmers begin to rebuild.

 

 

 

 

Energy Assistance for Low-Income Families

 

The Senate-passed spending package also includes an additional $2.5 billion to help low-income families meet high energy costs.  Bond joined with a bipartisan group of Senators to push to include this additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which will help Missouri families struggling with high energy costs, costs that will only increase this winter.  Bond has been a long-time supporter of increasing funding for the LIHEAP program so needy families in Missouri aren’t forced to choose between prescription drugs, groceries, and heating their homes.

 

 

 

 

Gas Price Relief

 

Bond also fought to include a provision in the Senate-passed bill that would bring Americans gas price relief.  Bond has been one of Congress’ most vocal proponents of expanding domestic energy production to ease Americans’ pain at the pump and put our nation on the road to energy independence.  There are at least 18 billion barrels of oil, equivalent to 10 years of oil supplies and more than enough to lower gas prices significantly, waiting to be tapped in the waters of America’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts.  Unfortunately, for years now Congress has included a moratorium on new oil and gas leases.  The bill passed by the Senate today lifts this ban and will allow additional supplies of oil to be opened up.

 

 

 

 

 Modern Battery Technology

 

Missouri is an historic leader in batteries with its vast lead deposits and manufacturing base.  Today, Missouri is pushing the cutting-edge of modern battery technology that makes batteries lighter, smaller and more powerful.  At Senator Bond’s request, this package has $12.4 million to apply Missouri ’s advanced battery technology to the needs of American soldiers, who need lightweight, rechargeable batteries that are durable enough to survive the rigors of combat.  Additionally, Senator Bond continues to fight to expand the U.S. domestic manufacturing supply base to supply a plentiful source of cheaper advanced batteries for hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars and trucks – a future that is good for Missouri manufacturing workers given new jobs, Missouri consumers provided cheaper clean cars and less need for gasoline, and the environment that is spared air pollution and carbon emissions.

 

 

 

 

 Bond secured funds for the following modern battery technology projects in the fiscal year 2009 defense spending bill, which is part of the Senate-passed spending bill:

 

 

 

 

  $6,000,000 for the Manufacturing of High Energy Superior Lithium Battery Technology at Kokam in Lee’s Summit

 

The military needs batteries that provide increased performance, lower-life cycle costs for a wide range of applications from batteries for individual soldiers’ radios to aircraft, vehicles and ships.  Superior Lithium Polymer Batteries meet that need, offering higher power and quicker recharge capabilities with the safety demands seen on mission critical platforms used by the warfighter.       

 

 

 

 

 $4,000,000 for Lithium-Ion Cell Development with Electro Nano Materials at Eagle Picher Technologies, LLC in Joplin

  

 

 

 

 

 

 The military has a need for rechargeable batteries in space applications, launchers, naval warfare, aircraft starting and telemetry, unmanned air and ground craft, radio and electronic communications, silent watch, and homeland security.  Lithium-Ion is a cell/battery system that has higher specific energy density and lighter weight per volume.  This technology has higher voltage output per cell – which means fewer cells are needed for a given battery voltage.  This can result in a reduced battery “footprint” by as much as 1/3 less than the core technologies of the past decade.

 

 

 

 

$2,400,000 for the Army National Guard Battery Modernization Program at EnerSys-Hawker Battery in Warrensburg

  

 

 

 In addition to increased performance, the AGM battery is a “non-spillable” battery approved by the Department of Transportation and is designated as non-hazardous.  Batteries can be shipped anywhere in the world within seven days, minimizing the need for a substantial inventory.  Unlike the flooded cell battery that is a source of both air and water pollution, the AGM battery can be operated without electrolyte spillage (even if inverted or punctured).  The AGM battery is fully charged at the factory and arrives at the installation location ready for use without the need for electrolyte filling or charging.

   

 

 

 

Military Equipment and Research

 

As a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Bond was also able to secure $55.6 million for key military projects in the fiscal year 2009 defense spending bill, which is included in the spending bill passed today.  Bond, whose son Sam is a Marine who served two tours of duty in Iraq , has fought to bring our troops in the field top notch equipment.  Bond has also been a strong advocate for funding cutting edge research – stressing that what happens on the battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan is tied to what we are able to accomplish in our labs and technology plants here at home.  Bond secured funds for the following programs in the fiscal year 2009 defense spending bill:

 

 

 

$3,500,000 for Detection, Mitigation and Neutralization of High Explosive, Remotely Detonated Devices at the University of Missouri-Columbia/Boeing

 

As of January, 2008 out of the 3,910 deaths of U.S men and women serving in Iraq that have occurred, 1,683 have been because of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which remains the number one cause of death of American troops in Iraq. The MU/Boeing team will take an advanced approach to detect, destroy and/or neutralize the electronics used to detonate the Remotely Detonated Explosives.

 

 

 

$2,000,000 for the Center for Borane Technology at the University of Missouri – Columbia

 

 

 

MU will develop novel explosives and gun propellants based on borane chemistry for applications in miniaturized and light weight weapon systems.

 

 

$2,800,000 for a Common Remote Stabilized Sensor System (CRS3) at DRS Sustainment Systems Inc. in St. Louis (this project was secured with Congresswoman Emerson)

 

 

 

The Army’s current fire support targeting and scout surveillance sensors require a stationary platform which leaves the solitary sensor operator exposed to the threat and vulnerable to snipers and IEDs. CRS3 employs the same sensors on a stabilized mount with remote operation which enables the sensor operator to remain under armor protection, as well as allowing for surveillance/targeting on the move.

  

 

 

 $4,000,000 for Advanced Military Installations that Integrate Renewable Energy and Advanced Energy Storage Technologies at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla

 

 

 

 

The Missouri University of Science and Technology seeks to establish a unified test-bed to research, develop, field test and demonstrate technologies for military installations that integrate renewable energy and advanced energy storage technologies. Diversifying the tactical base generation sources to include renewables and advanced energy storage can decrease the number of daily fuel trucks needed to serve each Army installation, which will both decrease costs and improve safety for the personnel who accompany the fuel convoys. 

 

 

 

$2,000,000 for Heuristic Internet Protocol Packet Inspection Engine (HIPPIE) at the Tech Guard Security, LLC in St. Louis (this project was secured with Congressmen Akin)

 

 

 

 

 

 U.S. forces must share information and intelligence among coalition forces securely and based on designated acceptable roles with the ability to deny access instantaneously if needed with the click of a button.  Current security technologies need considerable power to operate and are becoming slower as more security rules are added to the filter, and often require specialized training to use and manage when in a battlefield network.  Security capabilities must work on mobile devices, with low bandwidth and CPU usage with the ultimate goal to get the security into the hands of the warfighter who may be in remote or isolated locations.

  

 

$2,400,000 for TSG Technology Accreditation for NuParadigm Foundation in St. Louis

  

 

 

 

The funds will be used to acquire equipment, licenses, and services for the establishment of a development facility in St. Louis, MO which will host the testing and development environment needed to accredit NuParadigm Foundation and TSG technology for use in programs such as the Navy's SLAIN program.  NuParadigm FoundationTM, products built on Foundation technology, and NuParadigm's TSGTM architecture provide unprecedented levels of security, interoperability, system performance, and development efficiency.  Foundation and TSG technology enable the flexible yet highly-secured sharing of information and services, even across domain boundaries.  Development time and total cost of ownership reductions are often 40 to 60 percent.  Without the proposed accreditations, however, government agencies will be unable to fully utilize NuParadigm technology and receive such dramatic benefits.

  

 

 

 

$3,200,000 for Mission Execution Technology Implementation (Phase II) at Westar in St. Charles (this project was secured with Congressmen Hulshof and Akin)

 

METI seeks to integrate current standalone U.S. Army Aviation software automation products into one system of integrated software products. This integration would reduce maintenance and mission planning/execution complexity, timelines, transcription and procedural errors (human error).

 

 

 

 

 $1,600,000 for Agile Software Capability Interventions at Gestalt in Joplin

 

 

 

To address rising costs and man-power needs, most commercial organizations have outsourced their software development to low-cost countries such as India and China .  This option is not viable or appropriate for defense software or mission critical systems.  Current military approaches to solve this problem, while successful in addressing short-term pain, will not scale to the entire military enterprise. Rogue versions of systems being deployed end up confusing users and defeating the purpose for which they were deployed. The solution is to combine recent improvements in software development methodologies, with embedded, in-the-field, product managers to significantly accelerate the entire software development life-cycle and address the transformational needs of the military. 

 

 

 

 

$1,200,000 for Advanced Simulation Tools for Aircraft Structures Made of Composite Materials at ESRD in St. Louis (this project was secured with Congressman Clay)

 

 

The US Navy is faced with the challenge of substantially reducing life cycle costs for new and existing naval aircraft while simultaneously trying to accelerate the design to deployment schedule.  The aerospace industry is in agreement that the key to achieving these challenging goals is by substantially increasing the usage of advanced numerical simulation tools. Therefore a requirement exists for systematic application of advanced technology the reliability of which is comparable to that of physical experiments.

 

 

 $1,600,000 for Knowledge, Innovation & Technology Sharing Program at Knowledge Sharing Systems at Ft. Leonard Wood

 

 

 This program will improve the Army's ability to track, collect and disseminate valuable information created through its research and development programs, greatly increasing the value obtained from the billions of dollars the Army spends annually for R&D conducted by universities, laboratories, and private companies.                               

  

 

$2,400,000 for HYPERSAR at Clean Earth Technologies in St. Louis

 

 

  

HYPERSAR uses CET-patented hyperspectral-imaging technology and Northrop Grumman’s patented CMK synthetic aperture radar, and integrates them into a single all-weather high-performance radar capable of being integrated on class 3 and 4 UAV's as well as manned ISR and TACAIR platforms. HYPERSAR is a three phase RDT&E program at which point it well become an Army program of record.  HYPERSAR provides the following benefits: 1) detection and classification in a single system, 2) multi mission capable can support theatre-wide and tactical ISR, IFF and target cueing in a single payload, 3) small and light (<95lbs) enabling use on UAV's as small as class 3 as well as future integration into manned ISR and TACAIR platforms.                                        

 

 

  

  

$800,000 for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) Topical Treatment at ISW Group Inc. in St. Louis

 

 

 The Department of Defense has long recognized Pseudofolliculitis Barbae – or PFB – as a serious dermatological condition which disproportionately affects African-American and Hispanic men, and up to 33 percent (approximately 400,000) of active duty military men.  In addition to the painful pustules and papules caused by PFB, the condition also affects combat readiness and personal safety.  The scarring and lesions that occur can interfere with an effective seal of gas/oxygen masks and protective equipment – increasing exposure risks to our active duty military.  Despite the number of African-American and Hispanic warfighters afflicted with this condition, current treatment options for PFB are limited, of poor efficacy or not widely available, especially to troops in the field.  ISW Group, Inc., a small, minority woman-owned Missouri business, has developed a topical treatment supplied in a convenient tube format that can be easily added to a military field kit. The R& D funds for ISW will help get this treatment from the lab to our warfighters in the field.

 

 

 

$800,000 for Stabilized Enzyme Biofuel Cell (SEBC) for Unmanned Ground Sensors at Akermin in St. Louis

 

  

 

This funding would develop a SEBC power supply for unmanned ground sensors that delivers four times the operating time compared to that of batteries currently in use.  In addition, it would provide this improved performance with minimal cost to the overall unmanned, ground-sensor system and, deliver four prototypes to the Army suitable for field testing in 2010. The operational nature of unmanned ground sensors calls for power sources that are reliable, long-lasting, and energy dense.  Although batteries are used today to power these systems, they have insufficient energy densities to meet mission times for bandwidth intensive data systems that are capable of motion and video.  

  

 

 

$2,500,000 for IP Distribution Boxes and Category 5E Cables at Relia-Com at St. Joseph (this project was secured with Congressman Graves)

 

 

 

   

Our military must upgrade communications to meet the needs of modern-day warfare. The inability to take advantage of multiple communications modes reduces and hinders overall effectiveness of operational units and could lead to a failure of the mission and increased casualties. The DTS Relia-Com System provides tactical-combat forces with a dramatic improvement in field communications technology. The J 1077 IP and J 2317 IP Distribution Boxes provide data capability and the ability to use fiber optic cable. Installation and tear down time is reduced as well as added additional capability.           

 

 

 

  

 $1,000,000 for 5.56mm Aluminum Cartridge Case at Lake City Ammunition Plant in Independence (this project was secured with Congressman Graves)

 

 

 

  

DARPA has funded a technology effort to demonstrate that the SEP 5083 Aluminum Alloy, developed by researchers in the former Soviet Union, can be used to make reliable 5.56mm cartridges that are 30 percent lighter than the current brass casings.  In testing to date, DARPA has determined that cartridge cases can be formed from this unique aluminum alloy. Associated study efforts also indicate that the aluminum cartridge provides a form, fit and function replacement for the current brass cartridge cases.  Also, use of aluminum in the manufacturing process does not require changes to existing equipment or tooling and is less expensive then brass, reducing costs of ammunition. Funding is now needed to test and verify the performance of the aluminum-case cartridges and to qualify them for introduction into U.S. 5.56mm bullet production.

 

 

 $800,000 for CAMEL - Water transport system at LaBarge in St. Louis

  

 

 

The Camel will be the primary system for receiving, storing, and issuing potable water and will be used by units at all echelons throughout the battlefield.  The medium tactical vehicle (MTV) trailer mounted system will hold over 900 gallons of water. Under the proposed Interim Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) concept, it will provide a maneuver company operating in a temperate environment at a minimum sustaining consumption rate with two days of supply.  The increased water capacity provided by the Camel is a key to meeting projected water sustainment requirements of the IBCT.

    

 

 

$1,600,000 for All-Source Content Management (ASCMAN) for Actionable Intelligence at the University of Missouri – Columbia / Defense Intelligence Agency / SPADAC

  

 

 

  

Today's Defense Intelligence Analysts require transparent access to all available information in order to deliver "Actionable Intelligence" to today's war fighters rapidly and effectively. This requires the ability to search, discover, and access transparently information from all available sources based on content and relevance to the current mission. The All-Source Content Management (ASCMAN) fills a critical gap in today's tactical intelligence environment by enabling the search, discovery, and fusing of intelligence from all sources and data formats (imagery, vector, text, signals).              

  

 

 

   

$800,000 for High-Power Electrolytic Super-Capacitors Based On Conducting Polymers at Crosslink / University of Missouri – Saint Louis / Missouri University of Science and Technology / University of Florida

 

 

 

  

Future weapons systems require extremely compact, high-capacity, and quick discharging/recharging energy storage systems that are capable of high-power pulses to be successful. This critical technology needs to be developed and manufactured by US-based companies in order to maintain the strategic capability for this application and to be deployed further in future defense systems.

  

 

 

  

$1,120,000 for Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGD Helmet Retrofit Kits at SKYDEX

  

 

  

The funds will meet Navy’s unfunded requirement for Personnel Armor System Ground Troops (PASGT) helmet retrofit pad set kits, which are dramatically safer, more comfortable and cost-effective.  The SKYDEX-produced pad sets for the PASGT helmet retrofit kit are made of a state-of-the art polymer resin that is manufactured in Strongsville, Ohio; and the actual pad sets are blow-molded at the Nike manufacturing complex in St. Louis, Missouri.  

   

 

 

$3,200,000 for SAR Thunder Radar Pod at ITT Corporation in Amityville, NY

  

 

 

  

Funding for this program is sought by the government of Israel and supports the joint U.S. – Israel development in critical technologies and military systems.  This system is an item from the Air Force Reserve unfunded requirement list and will be equipped on U.S. military Air National Guard and Reserve aircraft.  An all-weather, day and night strike and situational awareness capability for military aircraft can only be provided with an airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) that is capable of seeing through cloud cover, inclement weather, and smoke obscured targets or areas of interest. Lack of an all weather targeting capability will continue to limit the Air Force’s ability to fulfill its Destruction of Enemy Air Defense (DEAD) tasking and allow the enemy to operate unfettered in poor metrological conditions. Current DEAD capability will not be realized until 2018 with the fielding of like capability in the F-35. 

  

 

  

$5,000,000 AN/AVS-7 Day Heads-Up Display (DayHUD) at EFW in Forth Worth, Texas

 

 

 

  

 Funding for this program is sought by the government of Israel and supports the joint U.S. – Israel development in critical technologies and military systems. This specific project leverages the advanced technologies developed by Elbit System Limited located in Israel and jointly developed with EFW Inc., an electronics supplier specializing in advanced systems manufacturing and development for U.S. forces.   Funding will procure system hardware for Navy and Marine helicopters, completing the situational awareness picture for the aircrew.  This system provides combat crews the eyes-out-of-the-cockpit capability needed to detect threats and to avoid danger, increases their ability to train for the night mission by allowing continuity of training with the same equipment, and will allow instructor pilots to more safely train new aviators. 

 

 

 

 Senator Bond also joined other members in requesting funds for the following committee-recommended programs:

 

 

 

  

 $150,000,000 for Breast Cancer Research

 

 

 

  

 The military’s Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) has matured from an isolated research program to a well-respected resource in the cancer community. Since its inception, the program has made rapid discoveries that offer crucial insights into the biology of breast cancer. Out of this program came the conclusions that underpinned the revolutionary new drug Herceptin, the first monoclonal antibody in the war against cancer. Whether developing new methods of extracting breast cancer cells at their earliest stages or conducting unprecedented research into gene/environment interaction, this program leads the way in innovative approaches to breast cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. These discoveries have brought into sharp focus the areas of research that hold promise and build on the knowledge and investment we have made.

    

 

 

$30,000,000 for the Arrow Weapon System - United States/Israel Partnership

 

 

 

 

 The Arrow anti-tactical ballistic missile program is the centerpiece of the U.S.-Israel cooperative defense relationship, and is one of the most advanced missile-defense systems currently in existence.  The Arrow offers Israel an essential capability against imminent and emerging ballistic missile threats, and provides the U.S. with key research and technology for other theater missile-defense programs. The Arrow is designed to defend Israel against short and medium range ballistic missiles, and to provide overall protection for the country's population, as well as U.S. troops in the region.  As currently deployed, two Arrow batteries provide protection for nearly all of Israel , and a third battery is currently under construction to provide a more robust capability against lower-range threats.

   

 

 

 

$16,000,000 for LITENING 4th Generation Advanced Targeting Pod Spiral Upgrade Kits for AFRC for the National Guard

   

 

 

The Litening Pod is a multi-sensor system attached beneath an aircraft to provide it with an enhanced precision strike capability and navigation system.  Litening transforms older planes into round-the-clock fighters capable of flying and designating targets in bad weather and at night. The Litening is equipped with two cameras, one using heat sensors to identify targets at night and during bad weather and a second for daytime use providing powerful CCD images. The dramatic success of the Litening was demonstrated when its integration with the U.S. Air Force F-16 provided the necessary target acquisition technology to kill Abu Musab al Zarqawi, al-Qaida’s top terrorist in Iraq. The LG4 Enhancement kit provides a new 4th Generation Forward Looking Infrared sensor, 4th Generation Charged Coupled Device (CCD) camera that enable targeting acquisition and identification. Additionally, it contains a C-Band Video Downlink capability which will provide exceptional standoff capability outside of most surface-to-air threats at twice the distance of the LITENING AT targeting pod. The LG4 kit is also equipped with a Laser Spot Tracker a Laser Target Imaging Processor and superior capability for targeting at long ranges using Joint weapons. The LG4 has been demonstrated on the F-16, A-10 and B-52 and is capable of executing missions in an attack role, the Forward Air Controller-Airborne mission, and as a conduit for Counter IED detection and targeting. 

 

 

 

$28,000,000 for the "David's Sling" Weapon System (DSWS) - United States / Israel Partnership

 

 

 

The DSWS developed jointly by the United States and Israel, is planned to provide both the State of Israel and the US Army with an effective and affordable protection against the clear and proven threat of Long Range Artillery Rockets (LRAR) and Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM) which are both an immediate mortal threat to the civilian population of Northern Israel. DWSW provides the US and Israel an affordable system, designed to defend efficiently against threats the existing systems do not cope with. An enhancement of the Israeli Missile Defense Architecture (IMDA) and its main defense shield, i.e., the Arrow Weapon Systems, was discussed with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) leadership, which agreed that the subject is of major interest for both Israel and the US Army.

  

 

 

  

$16,000,000 for Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative

 

 

 

  

The Range and Environmental-Protection Initiative (REPI) establishes buffer zones to protect training and testing areas at military installations throughout the country.  The partnerships formed under this program have served to enhance military readiness, protect open space and key natural habitat, and encourage economic growth.  REPI also addresses encroachment, preserving the readiness of our Armed Forces, and ensuring the long range sustainability of our installations, ranges, and airspace. 

 

 

 

   

$9,000,000 for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program

  

 

 

  

The 92 Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) and over 250 local offices form a nationwide network of dedicated procurement professionals who provide critical assistance to small businesses seeking to participate in Defense and other federal agency procurement contracts.  PTACs help generate new suppliers for the Defense Department– resulting in a stronger industrial base, greater competition, higher quality goods and services at lower cost, and a more prudent expenditure of taxpayer dollars.   

  

 

 

   

$20,000,000 for the National Guard Youth Challenge Program

 

 

 

   

The goal of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program is to improve the education, life skills, and employment potential of America ’s high school dropouts.  This is accomplished through the National Guard in participating states by providing military-based training, supervised work experience and by advancing the core program components.  These core components include assisting participants to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent, developing leadership qualities, promoting fellowship and community service, developing, life-coping skills and job skills and improving physical fitness, health, and hygiene. 

 

  

$8,000,000 for Gulf War Veterans’ Illness Research Program (GWVIRP)

  

 

 

Funds provided to the GWVIRP within the U.S. Army’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). This funding will allow CDMRP, through its network of grant funded researchers, to continue their important work of seeking treatments for the Gulf War Veterans who are ill. The funding will also allow for additional pilot studies of promising new treatments and to conduct clinical trials of treatments determined to be effective in earlier pilot studies.  

 

 

$102,500,000 for Increased Guard Personnel  

 

Increasing full time manning in the National Guard to alleviate stress on full time forces and improve readiness.  

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