Bell, Pantex Projects Receive Funding in Defense Spending Bill
Amarillo Workforce's Unique Contribution to National Defense Recognized

Amarillo, Texas - Congressman Mac Thornberry (TX-13) today announced that the House Armed Services Committee has approved a defense authorization bill that includes funding for Pantex and Bell Helicopter purchases.  The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (H.R. 5658) was approved by the Armed Services Committee on a unanimous 61 to 0 vote after a day-long hearing that ended after 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning. The bill authorizes spending totaling $531.4 billion for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.

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, per the President’s budget request for the V-22, roughly $2.512 billion in procurement for 30MVs / 6CVs and $ 365.3 million for research, development, test, and evaluation of the Osprey.

The bill authorizes funding for the Marines' H-1 program at the President’s budget request for the H-1 program, roughly $474.1 million for procurement of 20 aircraft and $3.8 million for research and development.

The Defense Authorization Act also provides $504 million for Pantex.  That total includes an additional $10 million above the President's request added by the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, of which Congressman Thornberry is a member, to address urgent maintenance needs at 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.

An additional $70 billion in supplemental funding to support the operational costs of the war against Islamist terrorists and in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as personnel expenses and procurement of new equipment for first few months of Fiscal Year 2009.  $2.6 billion was authorized for state-of-the-art Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles; $947 million for Up-Armored HMMWV’s; and $2.2 billion for Abrams tank, Bradley fighting vehicle, and Stryker vehicle upgrades to further protect our troops from roadside bombs and ambushes.

The bill provides a 3.9 percent pay raise for all members of the Armed Forces in 2009 and scheduled pay raises in 2010, 2011 and 2012 to reduce the military-civilian pay disparity.  The bill also extends the prohibition the Committee enacted last year on retail pharmacy cost share increases for the TRICARE military retiree medical program.

"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."

Thornberry said he was hopeful the House Leadership would bring H.R. 5658 to a vote by the full House before the Memorial Day recess.