Amarillo Workforce's Unique Contribution to National Defense Recognized 

( Washington D.C.) -Congressman Mac Thornberry (TX-13) today announced that the House Armed Services Committee has approved a defense spending bill that includes funding for projects at Bell Helicopter Textron and the Pantex nuclear weapons plant. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 1585) was approved by the Armed Services Committee on a unanimous 58-0 vote. The bill authorizes spending totaling $646 billion; $504 billion to fund national defense operations, as well as $142 billion to fund the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other efforts to defeat terrorism.

Bell Helicopter projects funded in the bill include a total of $2.8 billion for the V-22 Osprey, $645.5 million for updating the Marines' H-1 helicopters, and $271.0 million to continue research and development of the new Presidential helicopter.

Bell Helicopter's Amarillo plant is the primary location for work conducted on the Osprey program. The bill calls for purchasing 33 Osprey aircraft (23 MV-22s and 10 CV-22s) and also funds continued testing and research and development of the V-22.

The funding for the Marines' H-1 program will go toward upgrading 20 helicopters and will help replace aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Another project involving Bell - the new Presidential helicopter - receives $271.0 million in the bill for continuing research and development. The helicopter is expected to reach initial operating capacity in 2008. Assembly work will be done at Bell's Amarillo plant.

The Defense Authorization Act also provides $553.4 million for Pantex. That total includes an additional $15 million above the President's request that Congressman Thornberry secured for the plant.

"The highly skilled workforces at Pantex and Bell Helicopter Textron provide unique contributions to our national defense. I am pleased that I was once again able to convince my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee that Amarillo is the only place in the nation where this work can be done," said Thornberry.

The bill also provides a 3.5 percent pay raise for members of the Armed Forces, once again funds the TRICARE military retiree medical program without increasing fees, and extends the prohibition the committee enacted last year on retail pharmacy cost share increases for military retirees.

"People are our most important national defense resource. The pay and benefits authorized in this bill will allow us to continue to attract America's best and brightest to volunteer for our armed forces," said Congressman Thornberry, a Ranking Republican member of the Armed Services Committee, "and maintain the quality of life for our military retirees."

A vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives on the Defense Authorization Act is expected in the next two weeks.

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